Defending
Two-Touch 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
Two Touch
Age
Under 8 to Adults
Duration
14 min
Players
4-16
Area / pitch size
24 x 16 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 24 x 16 yards area.
- 2Place a marker at every receiving position so players know where to set the ball before it arrives.
- 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.
- 4Ball enters from the coach and the first receiver is on two touches from that moment.
- 5Count completed sequences under the touch limit — best of three 3-minute rounds.
Coaching points
- -Close the space quickly, then slow down
- -Side-on with the low centre of gravity
- -Patience before the tackle
- -First touch out of the feet and into the direction of the next pass
Progressions
- +Drop the central players to one touch
- +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful
Regressions
- -Allow three touches while the picture is being learned
- -Simplify the area or the service until success returns
Variations
- -Two touches in your own half, free touches in the final third
- -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch
Common mistakes
- -Sprinting straight through the attacker
- -Standing square and getting spun
- -Taking a settling touch that kills the tempo
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
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
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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
- 26 x 18 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Mini Goals
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Defending
FREE
Continuous 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
- Skill Practice
Defending
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Wide Channel Delay and Show
Coach the approach and set position of the defender
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
DefendingTacklingPressing