Defending
Defensive Recovery Runs
Recover goal-side at speed
Defending
Transition
Speed & Agility
Defensive Recovery Runs is a 15-minute defending drill for 4-16 players, suitable for Under 10 to Adults at intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, bibs, full goals. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.
Back to drill libraryDefending
Transition
Speed & Agility
Skill Practice
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Work Rate
Duration
15 min
Players
4-16
Pitch size
40 x 30 yards
Ability levels
Intermediate / Advanced
Objectives
- -Recover goal-side at speed
- -Delay the attacker until help arrives
- -Build defensive resilience after losing the ball
Setup
- 1Goal with keeper at one end.
- 2Attacker starts on halfway with a ball, defender five yards behind.
- 3Cone marking the recovery line the defender must reach.
Coaching instructions
- 1Coach releases the attacker, defender sprints to get goal-side.
- 2Once level, the defender slows to a jockey and forces wide.
- 3Six reps each with a full rest between.
Coaching points
- -Sprint the first five yards, don't jog back
- -Recover on the inside line towards your own goal
- -Slow the feet once goal-side and get side on
- -Force the attacker away from goal
Common mistakes
- -Recovering ball side rather than goal side
- -Diving in as soon as you catch up
- -Giving up on the run