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Stop teams playing through
  • Defending
  • 11 -15

Block Through Routes To Goal

Difficulty

Stopping players getting through on goal is a key development of your team's defending technique. It takes good communication and organisation to block routes through to the goal you are defending. In this session defenders block routes to goal.

dave

Written by Dave Clarke

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Defenders Working in Pairs

This is a great way to get defenders working together to prevent goals being scored. Use this drill to keep your goals against column empty

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Coaching Objectives

Players learn that in pairs one player presses the ball with the other player covering the space in behind goalside of the first player and in a position to see the player and their own goal – so they need a side-on stance. The idea is to prevent direct attacks on goal forcing play away from danger areas with good pressing

Drill Setup

  • 20 Mins
  • 5 Players
  • 1 Goals
  • 2 Bibs
  • Penalty Area y

What the Players Do

Use an area coned off from the 6 yard box of the penalty area to the 18 yard line using he goal with a goalkeeper. Two attackers start either side of the 18 yard line with two defenders starting…

Block Passing Routes

Blocking passing routes makes it harder for teams to pass through the middle and get the ball into a striker. Stop the striker getting the ball and you stop them scoring goals.

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Coaching Objectives

When teams are trying to build up -play through the middle of the pitch and strong midfielders must block passing routes to stop attacks. 

For this drill you need to create an areas 15 x 10 yards split into three zones with 8 players, bibs, cones and balls. Play this drill for 15 minutes

Drill Setup

  • 15 Mins
  • 8 Players
  • 2 Bibs
  • 15 x 10 y

What the Players Do

Start with three attacking players and one defender in the first zone, one defender in the middle zone and two attackers in the last zone and a target man on the end line.  The aim is for the…

Block the Centre

A tactical possession game that develops passing, movement, and awareness using zonal restrictions and neutral players.

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Coaching Objectives

Develop players’ ability to maintain possession, switch play, and identify passing lanes under pressure while enhancing spatial awareness and support play.

Drill Setup

  • 20 Mins
  • 12 Players
  • 6 Bibs
  • 30 x 20 y

Technique Tips

  •  
  • Always scan the field before receiving.
  • Use open body position to receive and play forward.
  • Quick, short passes to draw defenders out.
  • Diagonal movements create passing angles.
  • Magic men: focus on supporting from behind and providing overloads.
  •  

What the Players Do

You need two teams of four players with two players from each team in each half of the pitch and they must stay in those zones. Two magic men play for the team in possession who can go anywhere with a…

Session Overview 1/5

  • 1.

    Defenders Working in Pairs

    This is a great way to get defenders working together…
  • 2.

    Block Passing Routes

    Blocking passing routes makes it harder for teams to…
  • 3.

    Block the Centre

    A tactical possession game that develops passing,…

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