Compact Back Line: Defending Space and Depth as a Unit

Develop a collective understanding of back four defensive movement, emphasising vertical and horizontal compactness to protect central spaces, defend the box, and reduce gaps between units.

• Set up an 11v11 or 10v10 scenario across the full width of the pitch or cone off a narrower pitch. • Using cones, mark out a defensive “compactness zone” near the penalty areas. These zones can be mismatched as per the diagram. This is to help defenders understand they have to get more and more compact the closer they get to their goal. • The defending team (black) builds out from the goalkeeper, aiming to pass and move through midfield. • The attacking team (green) attempts to progress the ball quickly into advanced areas, using the space behind, and create goal-scoring opportunities