Defending

Defending A Low Block

Stay compact in and around the box

Defending

Team Shape

Set Pieces

Defending A Low Block is a 20-minute defending drill for 8-18 players, suitable for Under 12 to Adults at beginner, 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 library

Defending

Team Shape

Set Pieces

Skill Practice

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Full Squad

Youth Friendly

Adult Suitable

Goals Needed

Duration

20 min

Players

8-18

Pitch size

Half pitch

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Defending A Low Block — Goalkeeping set-up — serve, save, reset · Half pitch

Step 1 of 3Attackers try to break the block, defenders hold shape and clear.

1. Attackers try to break the block, defenders hold shape and clear.
2. On a clearance beyond the cones the defenders score a point.
3. Twelve attacks then swap.

Cones mark the area
Full goal
GK = goalkeeper
C = coach serving, S = second server
Ball
Cones mark the keeper's starting positions
Dotted arrow = rotation between repetitions
Keeper distributes back to the server
Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble

Objectives

-Stay compact in and around the box
-Protect the central areas
-Clear and step out together

Setup

1Defensive unit of six in front of a full goal with keeper.
2Attacking unit of seven around the edge of the final third.
3Cones marking the compact block zone.

Coaching instructions

1Attackers try to break the block, defenders hold shape and clear.
2On a clearance beyond the cones the defenders score a point.
3Twelve attacks then swap.

Coaching points

-Deny the pass into the pocket
-Slide across as a unit and stay narrow
-Step out together after every clearance

Common mistakes

-Dropping too deep as a unit
-Individuals jumping out of the block
-Slow reactions to the second ball

Equipment needed

Balls

Cones

Bibs

Full Goals

Age groups

Under 12

Under 13

Under 14

Under 15

Under 16

Adults

Progressions

+Switch To Score: two switches before scoring
+Five Second Counter-Press: three seconds to win it back
+Target Zone Bonus: only goals started from a pocket count
+Add a competitive scoreline for the last round

Regressions

-Switch To Score: switch earns a bonus point rather than being compulsory
-Five Second Counter-Press: eight seconds and fewer opponents
-Target Zone Bonus: widen the pocket zones
-Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

-Switch To Score — A goal only counts after the ball has been switched from one side of the pitch to the other.
-Five Second Counter-Press — On losing the ball the team has five seconds to win it back before dropping into shape.
-Target Zone Bonus — Extra points for playing into marked pockets between the lines before finishing.
-Overload Rotation — One team plays with an extra player for two minutes then the overload rotates.
-Restart Realism — All restarts are played as in a match — throw-ins, goal kicks and corners rather than a coach ball.
-Two-Goal Decision — Each team attacks two small goals, so defenders must decide which threat to cover.
-Limited Touch Build-Up — Maximum three touches in your own half, unlimited once you pass the halfway line.
-Flip the practice to the opposite side of the pitch