Defend, Defend, Defend

Develop individual and collective defending behaviours in a compact shape. Focus on defending outnumbered, regaining possession, and transitioning to counter with discipline.

• Defending Team (Black) • Compactness: Stay tight and connected as a unit, denying central spaces. • Delaying and Screening: Delay the play and protect central lanes until a tackle or intercepting opportunity arises. • Communication: Constant communication to shift and cover effectively. • Body Shape: Side-on to delay and force play away from goal or into traffic. • Transition: Recognise the moment to counter and break with speed after regaining. • Attackers (Green) • Use movement and width to stretch the defenders and create overloads. • Work off the striker to drag defenders and exploit gaps. • Floaters (Yellow) • Provide support but limited to two touches to increase speed of play. • Be constantly available but protect the ball under pressure.