Activity

Support Defending

Sweepers not Keepers
During the first couple of weeks of our Recreational League this Fall season I have noticed that many of our teams play with one player standing in the goal while the other players play the rest of the field, essentially playing as a keeper. This is a tactic that I don’t like. From a developmental standpoint, the player standing in goal does not get the same chances as the other players to develop his/her individual skills in a decision making or technical aspect. From a standpoint of the number of players going forward, leaving a player as a keeper means that you will always be out numbered. Either situation is not desirable for us as youth coaches. We should instead be looking at building a sound foundation for the future development of our players. I understand the rationale for using a keeper in these ages as most coaches do not want to give up a landslide of goals in every game, but there is a better solution for us; Support Defending.

Here is a quick note about my teams. With my under 5 and under 6 teams, I play them in a triangle (as much as I can with 4 and 5 year olds) with one defender (Sweeper) and two attacking players (Left and Right). In the under 7 and under 8 leagues, I play a diamond formation, with one defender (Sweeper), two midfielders (Left and Right) and a single forward. My players are expected to dribble when they get the ball and try and score. Only when they consistently begin to beat players do I encourage them to pass.

What is Support Defending?
The idea is to have one player challenging the ball and a secondary player (support defender) dropping behind the challenging player at a 45 degree angle to the center. The support defending player cannot just drop into the mouth of the goal, but instead needs to be close enough to cover the challenging player. If the challenging player is beat then he must 'support defend' behind the second defender who is stepping up to challenge the ball. If as a player is beat he rotates back behind the next challenging defender. You can effectively turn 2 defenders into 3, 4, or 5 defenders. To be able to put this tactic to work, your sweeper must be within 2-3 yards of the attack. As your team loses the ball, a player must put pressure on the ball, allowing other players time to drop in behind into support defending positions. In under 5 and under 6 ages, I have all players drop and support defend. In the older ages, I only have the midfield support defend.

How do I introduce Support Defending?
Below I have a training session that I use with all of my younger teams.

1st Activity (warm-up) - Fetch (U6) - 5 minutes

Each player holds the ball in his hands. One at a time, each player hands his ball to the coach. The coach tosses the ball any direction away from the group and the player proceeds to fetch his ball and bring it back the coach. This is very interactive and many players can be fetching at the same time. Have the players bring the ball back different ways, with their feet, bouncing, with their hands, rolling, juggling. Use your imagination, but keep it safe. For older players, this can be done in small groups having to work together to bring the ball back (2 players; bring it back using 3 hands, or two backs, or two hands and a head).

Stretch - 5 minutes

2nd Activity - Monster Attack - 10 minutes

In the same area have everyone dribbling around with a ball. Two monsters (coaches) should be moving around in the area as well. Players get a point for dribbling at the monsters and executing a turn without being tagged by the monster. Play for 30 seconds.

Progressions: Play to try to beat your own score. Turn using the sole of foot. Turn using outside of foot.

Water Break - 2 minutes

3rd Activity - Run Throughs - 5 minutes

Position the players at midfield. Each player must have a ball. The first player in line hands his ball to the coach and then performs some sort of acrobat (summersault, cart wheel, jumps over cones) and runs onto a ball tossed at goal by the coach. Player should try and get the ball under their control as soon as possible and score a goal.

4th Activity - Support Defending (U6) - 10 minutes

Set a cone 20 yards out from goal towards the side of the field. Place a second cone in the middle of the field. Place a line of attackers behind the wide cone each with a ball. Place a line of defenders (2nd Defender) behind the cone in the center of the field. Place a single defender (Sweeper) in between the attacking line and the goal. On the coaches signal the attacker dribbles at goal looking to beat the Sweeper. The entire defensive line sprints back in between the Sweeper and the goal. If the Sweeper gets beat by the attacker then one of the support defenders becomes the Sweeper and the original Sweeper support defends with the rest of the team. Play until the defenders win the ball or a goal is scored

Water Break- 2 minutes

5th Activity (the game) - 3v3 at Goal - 10 minutes

Set up a small field with goals made from cones or from pop up goals. Allow the players to play without too much coaching. Remember the game is the best teacher.

Note:

Many times you will hear a reference to 'Pressure, Cover, Balance' when you talk about defending in soccer. The support defending principle is the Pressure and Cover part of this, also called 1st defender and 2nd defender.