Wide Channel Recovery Run Defending

Objective

• -Recover goal-side at speed
• -Defend while running towards your own goal
• -Decide between tackling and shepherding

Setup

1. 1A long approach to goal with a defender start cone behind the attacker in a 46 x 34 yards area.
2. 2Mark five-yard channels down both touchlines with flat cones.
3. 3Balls with the attackers, keeper in goal.

How to play

1. 1Attacker starts five yards ahead and runs at goal.
2. 2Defender recovers, gets goal-side and forces the attacker wide.
3. 3The rep ends with a shot, a tackle or the ball out of play.
4. 4The practice is started by a pass into one of the wide channels.
5. 5End actions only count when the ball has travelled through a wide channel first.

Progressions

• +Defender allowed into the channel to make it live
• +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

• -Channel is a free zone with no defender at all
• -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

• -Switch the ball to the far channel before the end action
• -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

• -Tackling from behind
• -Running alongside instead of ahead
• -Everything funnelling into a crowded middle