Defending
Continuous Delay and Show
Coach the approach and set position of the defender
Defending
Tackling
Pressing
Premium
Coach the approach and set position of the defender. Set up the area, follow the steps and use the coaching points below.
Back to drill libraryDefending
Tackling
Pressing
Skill Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Foundation Phase
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Repetition
Age
Under 8 to Adults
Duration
16 min
Players
4-16
Area / pitch size
26 x 18 yards
Difficulty
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Equipment
Balls, Cones, Mini Goals
Coaching focus
Coach the approach and set position of the defender
Objective
- -Coach the approach and set position of the defender
- -Show the attacker into the least dangerous area
- -Win the ball at the right moment
Setup
- 1A defending channel with two mini goals to protect in a 26 x 18 yards area.
- 2Load a ball at each starting station so the next rep can begin immediately.
- 3Balls with the attackers, bibs for defenders.
How to play
- 1Attacker drives at the defender who must delay and show one way.
- 2The defender wins a point for forcing the attacker wide or winning the ball.
- 3Swap roles after each duel.
- 4As soon as one sequence ends, the next server plays in without waiting.
- 5Run 4-minute blocks and count total completed sequences as a squad score.
Coaching points
- -Close the space quickly, then slow down
- -Side-on with the low centre of gravity
- -Patience before the tackle
- -Reset fast — the value is in the volume of good reps
Progressions
- +Add a second ball into the rotation
- +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful
Regressions
- -Pause 15 seconds between reps to reset positions
- -Simplify the area or the service until success returns
Variations
- -Split into two competing halves and compare block totals
- -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch
Common mistakes
- -Sprinting straight through the attacker
- -Standing square and getting spun
- -Long queues while balls are collected
Related Football Drills & Sessions
- More football defending drills
- More football tackling drills
- More football pressing drills
- Football drills for U8s
- Football drills for U9s
- Football drills for U10s
- Football drills for U11s
- Football drills for U12s
- Football drills for U13s
- Football drills for U14s
- Football drills for U15s
- Football drills for U16s
- Football drills for 4 players
- Football drills by age, topic and squad size
- Football session plans built around this theme
Related drills
- Age band
- Under 8 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 16 min
- Area
- 28 x 20 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Mini Goals
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Defending
FREE
Overload Delay and Show
Coach the approach and set position of the defender
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DefendingTacklingPressing
- Age band
- Under 8 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 14 min
- Area
- 24 x 16 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Mini Goals
- Focus
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Two-Touch Delay and Show
Coach the approach and set position of the defender
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
DefendingTacklingPressing
- Age band
- Under 8 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 14 min
- Area
- 26 x 18 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Mini Goals
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Defending
FREE
Tempo Delay and Show
Coach the approach and set position of the defender
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
DefendingTacklingPressing
- Age band
- Under 8 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 16 min
- Area
- 24 x 16 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Mini Goals
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Defending
FREE
Rotation Delay and Show
Coach the approach and set position of the defender
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
DefendingTacklingPressing
- Age band
- Under 8 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 14 min
- Area
- 28 x 20 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Mini Goals
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Defending
FREE
Combination Delay and Show
Coach the approach and set position of the defender
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
DefendingTacklingPressing
- Age band
- Under 8 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 14 min
- Area
- 30 x 22 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Mini Goals
- Focus
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Defending
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Wide Channel Delay and Show
Coach the approach and set position of the defender
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
DefendingTacklingPressing