The Defensive unit (including the GK!)
Awareness
One of the most important aspects of the game.
Defender needs to keep eyes both on where the opposition is and where the team mates are at any given time. To do this you have your players always scanning for potential treats and dangerous situations that start to evolve, this will help the player recognise the penetrating runs from the attackers and easier to prevent with good positioning
Offsides
Controlling the offside trap with communication. Defenders and the GK are in control of the space that they leave for the attackers to exploit. Use verbal and visual communication to get this as effective as possible then in turn this will make defending a whole lot easier.
Its important to recognise early through balls and to invade the space and deny the pass in the first place
Passing
Attacking play usually starts with the defensive unit (this includes the GK!)
Defenders and GKs need to be comfortable playing the ball at each interval. Short, medium and long using a variety of passing techniques.
Side foot
Used to pass the ball to short distances, the most common and the most consistently accurate
Drill
Used to pass the ball over distances between 20 and 40 yards • The ball is drilled just off the ground arriving at the receiver below the shins
Wedge, clip, chip.
Used to by-pass players over the same distances
Ideally the ball now needs to be lofted so arriving at the receiver without bouncing
Drive
Used to pass the ball over the longest distances e.g. passing
long diagonals, Goal kicks etc
Volley
When the ball is thrown from the hands and struck in front of
the body prior to it hitting the floor
Used to play over long distances but lacks accuracy
Side Volley
Volleyed from outside the line of the body similar to how an
outfield player would volley the ball
Goes at a flatter trajectory and easier for the receiver to
control when played over the longer distances
Half Volley
Delivered from the hands and the ball is struck as it “hits
the floor”
Often used when passing long especially when playing into a strong wind. The benefit of using this technique is that the trajectory is lower than either the volley or the side-volley
n accurate technique and the flight is true therefore easier to control for the receiver
Dribble and Drive
The goalkeeper once in possession and decides to dribble the ball out of the penalty area and drive the ball over longer distances
Often used to exploit the opposition if they are poor headers of the ball
The most accurate and probably the most favoured technique used by today’s’ goalkeepers
Fly Kick
Playing the moving ball first time and long, as when clearing a back pass or when advancing off the line to clear a through ball played over the defence
Composure
Defenders and GKs need to have composure on the ball, they need to be comfortable and b balanced in highly stressful situations. This will take time and practice!
Interceptions
This area takes a surprising amount of football intellect. You need the read the state of play as well as reading your opponents. Does the defender run to defend the player or defend the space?
For the older players they will need to learn how to read the oppositions preferences of playing the ball from MF to the ATTs
Tackling
[In my personal option, its a loss art!]
There are only really two options…
- Watch your opponent, DENY space for them to run into, DELAY their run, DICTATE the direction you want to force them to go.
- Wait for them to make a mistake when they are under pressure then effectively make the tackle.