..

DEVELOPING CREATIVE DEFENDERS

FUTURE FOOTBALL
WILL BE :
FASTER.- ball speed between players,player movement,
decision
making,technical implementation.
UNORTHODOX.- un-expected,unusual skills will be necessary.
VARIED.game tempo,technique requirements,game styles
INTELLIGENT.individual,team-tactical decision making.
DISGUISED.deceit to beat the block and stubborn defenders.
POSSESSION BASED.- ball retention,precision and incision with
possession.
INVENTIVE.more solo players and mavericks will flourish.
UNIVERSALITY will be paramount - all must play as necessary.
INSTANCY
will be crucial. (NOW is the time.)
ATHLETICISM. Significantly enhanced.
GAME STYLE CHANGES SINCE 1992 !

FUTURE DEFENDING REQUIREMENTS ?

Defending Implications.

Longer defending phases capability for prolonged defending.

More defensive decisions and directional changes per game.
More split second directional changes to make at high speed.
Calculate ball speed and trajectory rapidly.
Increased demand for mobility range in lower body especially.
Increased demand for agility, acceleration, deceleration, explosion.
Increased demand for lower limb and foot speed.
Increased demand for rapid changes in stride cadence.
Quicker defensive activity in response to unorthodoxy and speed.
Excellence in defending alone in counter attack situations. (ie at
speed some 30-40 yds from goal.) moving backwards ,sideways etc
Increased demand to defend against quick interplay near to goal.
Defensive intelligence ( knowing) and ability to read and respond to
events will be paramount.

POSITION SPECIFIC ?

Talented players need attention

they need specialist attention !
A Robertson 2003

POSITION SPECIFIC ?
Defending

Under

16 Team Coach

Under

15 Team Coach

Coach

Midfield
Coach

Under

14 Team Coach
Attacking

AND Generic Team Technical & Tactical Practice

Coach

POSITION SPECIFIC COACH

Rugby

Union

Cricket
Athletics
American

75 90 minutes
One (two) sessions per week
Focussed,detailed,learning & practice
Number of touches / repetitions = overload
Specific positional circumstances = specificity
Relevance and appropriateness age / events
Substantial learning curriculum = progression
More effective use of time ?

Football

Hockey
Football

Goalkeepers !

What did they do tonight son to make you a better ------- ?

POSITION SPECIFIC ?
Defending

Under

16 Team Coach

Under

15 Team Coach

Coach

Midfield
Coach

Under

14 Team Coach
Attacking

Coach
TECHNICAL
COACH

ACCOUNTABILITY

POSITION SPECIFIC ?
Defending

Under

16 Team Coach

Coach
Midfield

Under

15 Team Coach

Coach
Attacking

Under

14 Team Coach

TECHNICAL COACH

ARRANGED GAMES Club v club

- Internal Teams

Coach

ACCOUNTABILITY
Different Systems
Different Scenarios
Different Tactics
3 x 30 minutes
Coach Interventions

DIFFERENT TACTICS
DIFFERENT SCENARIOS

Man for man + SW.

Man mark certain opponents.
GK D & D.
10 yd channels for W and FB v 1 oppt.
Play out from Back with 3 or 4 or 2 !
Press for 30 mins.
Holding MF Player.
Drop for 30 mins.
Playing with / against 10.
Free defending for 30 mins.
Full court Press.
Playing 1 up.
Half Court Press.
Playing 3 up narrow.
One forward only to defend in A 1/3rd.
Show infield / show outside.
Two forwards defend in A1/2.
Opposite wide players.
Opposite full backs.
ETC ETC ETC
ETC ETC ETC

O
P

I
S

I
T

N
O

P
S

C
I
F
I
C
E

DEFENSIVE PRACTICE
CURRICULUM ?

PREMIER LEAGUE ( averages)

POSSESSIONS per GAME

PASS % SUCCESS

FULL BACKS

48

78 . 45 %

CENTRE BACKS

44

80 . 65 %

MIDFIELD

50

80 . 66 %

FORWARDS

40

79 . 85 %

Prozone

Average contact TIME on the ball.

PREMIER LEAGUE

SPANISH LEAGUE

MAJOR LEAGUE

INTERNATIONAL

2.67 seconds

2.75 seconds

2.74 seconds

2.94 seconds

AVERAGE NUMBER OF CONTACTS

TOUCHES

TOUCHES

TOUCHES

TOUCHES

2.04

2.29

2.03

2.17

IMPLICATIONS FOR PLAYER DEVELOPMENT ?

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER Practice

Content
Defensive Technical Content.

Individual and unit

AWARENESS.

Defending alone in a Counter Attack context.

Showing infield,outside and nothing.
Screening opponents preferred pass options.
Pressing and containing opponents. (from front and rear.)
Interceptions, Spoiling, Challenging, Blocking- passes, crosses and strikes.
Defending player inter-changes.
Marking and tracking opponents.
Shifting and turning in tight defending situations defending offbalance.
Heading from a variety of ball trajectories.
One touch clearance , directing skills - head,volley etc
Developing a range and craft when passing the ball.
Running with the ball.
Bodywork receiving and protecting the ball.

Individual, group, functional practice.

CENTRAL BACKS

PSYCHOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES ?

PSYCHOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES !

I was born to defend.

Determination
Stoicism
Hugo Montero
Durability
Uruguay
Mental toughness
Resilience
Courage mental and physical.
Appetite for defending a love for defending !
Alertness
Awareness
Concentration
You have to love not having the ball.
Belief
New Zealand All Blacks
Composure

CENTRAL BACKS SKILLS ?

CENTRAL BACKS - Skills required

DEFENSIVE SKILLS

Reading, understanding and anticipating the development of play.

Positioning accurately.
Capability to accept changes of responsibility and act accordingly.
Accurate marking and tracking skills.
Ability to intercept passes and crosses.
Ability to screen passing options and block passes and crosses.
Ability to spoil opponents possession and to contain when they are in
possession.
Ability to press and show opponents in various directions as required.
Ability to defend alone on counter-attacks or in static circumstances.
Ability to challenge for the ball and win possession.
Ability and courage to block shots at goal
Ability to support, and cover fellow defenders and spaces as required.
Heading ability.
1 touch intercept and directing the ball skills with feet,head and body.
Never taken by surprise awareness and use of all senses !

CENTRAL BACKS skills required.

ATTACKING SKILLS

Ability

to support others accurately.

Reliable, assured and varied first touch.
Ability to accurately pass the ball over a variety of
distances.
Ability to travel with the ball at varying speeds.
Ability to perform a safe trick when necessary.
Ability to disguise intent when receiving and releasing
the ball.
Ability to participate in combination play.
Ability to protect the ball if under pressure.

Central Backs Technical Practice ?

Wide range of receiving skills ground, aerial, under pressure .

Carrying the ball at varying speeds if appropriate.
Ground and aerial passes off the run.
Medium and Long Range Passing. (Ground and aerial passes.)
Long driven, diagonal passes. (50 60 yds little backlift.)
Changing the play passes especially diagonal play changes.
Measured passes to and for front players- 40 yds +.(aerial, ground.)
Fast and hidden ground passes. (15 30 yds. into & through MF especially )
Safe trick !
All heading skills- straight, across field, diagonals, drop-off heading etc
Marking,tracking and back-tracking skills.
Interception ,spoiling and challenging skills.
Blocking shots and crosses.
Defending dummies.
Defending alone against Counter attacking players. (Alone ! and in pairs and units.)

WIDE BACKS

MODERN FULL BACK CONTACT SCATTERGRAPH

WIDE BACKS
TECHNICAL PROFILE
PREMIERSHIP BEST
Total Passes
Successful Passes
Pass Success %
Passes forward
Passes received
Average no: touches
Headers
Tackles
Interceptions
Crosses
Shots

93
82
100
58
95
1.99
25
13
34
13
5

AVERAGE
36
27
78
20
36
10
4
16
2
0

WIDE BACK necessities.

Able to defend in 1 v 1 and 2 v 2 .
Can smell danger.
A range of passing channel,diagonal,behind
Crossing ability on the move at pace.
Ability to over and underlap.
Play wall-passes on the move.
Finish 1 and 2 touch.
1,000 league games
78 International caps.

SKILLS REQUIRED

Passing range and capability over a variety of distances.

Short range inter-passing and combination skills with others.
Excellence in first touch D D D .
Ability to run with the ball.
Crossing and passing ability when moving outside and inside the
opponents defensive structure.
Ability to combine play with others to attack the penalty box with or
without the ball eg wall-passes,1 v 1 and link with others.
Positioning, marking and all 1 v 1 defending skills. pressing,
intercepting, challenging for the ball, containing opponents,blocking
passes ,shots and crosses.
Defending skills in far-post and central defending locations eg heading
and clearance skills.
Combined defending skills eg wall-passes ,overlaps ,take-overs etc

WIDE BACKS- Technical Practice.

Receiving and Running with the ball.

Short range combination plays.
Assured fast passes into feet over 20 30 yds.
Bent passes forward 30 yds +.
Crossing the ball and operating infield in the A1/3rd.
Supplying players inside the penalty box.
Measured passes for front players-ground / aerial.
Understanding combination-play skills with and without the
ball.
All 1 v 1 defending skills.
Showing infield and outside.
Blocking crosses.
Defending at the far post.

OVERALL DEFENDERS QUALITIES !

DEFENDERS WHO - -

Receive the ball and play in and from the defending third of the field.
Run with the ball into MF and beyond with speed and control.
Are able to combine play with MF players intelligently on entering the MF areas.
Can deliver passes with either foot and any surface over a variety of distances with
deception and spin if necessary.
Know how and are able to, release appropriate passes into players located in MF areas.
Are able to provide forward placed players with appropriate passes behind and in front of
the defence.
Understand the priorities of defending and the concepts of defensive safety and risk.
Can read and predict the play and are then decisive when making decisions.
Are able to defend in 1 v 1 situations from static and fluent circumstances e.g Counter
attacks.
Understand the priorities in individual defending circumstances e.g Intercept,spoil etc
Can defend with composure and accuracy.
Have explosive speed over 5 15 yds.
Have pace ,and explosiveness in their general movement.
Have spring if not height when competing in aerial challenges.
Are mentally adaptable in a variety of defending circumstances.

TEAM TACTICAL PLAY FOR DEFENDERS

STARTING ATTACKS FROM THE BACK

WHY ?

Playing from the back Why ?

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

To provide pre-determined players with possession in chosen

situations.
To move the ball to designated areas of the field.
To provide a more controlled service to players in the middle and
attacking thirds.
To create players who are confident to take possession in areas
close to their own goal.
To produce an overload of players beyond the first defending line.
To create composed & free supply positions into the attacking
third.
To run well established patterns of play that are clearly
understood.
etc; etc:

TACTICAL OPTIONS

11

10

PLAY OR PRESS

GK
DRIBBLE

DESIGNATED TARGET
AREA

BUILD UP FROM THE DEFENDING THIRD

7
2
8
5
4
6

9
10

Assumed Defending Structure.

11

GK IN Possession - Play out against 1 forward

7

Make the
opportunity
to play

5
8

OR !!

10

Team Dispersal
High,wide,long.

11

Playing out against 2 forwards eg Mexico WC 2010

2

MAKE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO
PLAY OUT

OR ?
9

10

11
6
N0; 4 drop to into / ahead of
Back line.

Playing out against 2 forwards

7

2
5

4
9

8
10
6
FB drop to into / ahead of
Back line.

11

Playing out against 2 forwards FB push forward No; 3

7
2

8
9

10

1 FB push into wide

MF position.

11

Playing out against 2 forwards CB push forward No; 5

10 push forward
7

8
5

10

11

CREATING OUTLETS AHEAD OF THE BALL

Pass outlets for

FB in M1/3rd

5
9

10

11

Options
for CB in possession.
5

4
9

8
10

DEPENDENT on :
Team Tactics
Team Style of Play
Capabilities of the Central back
11
how to increase range of ability ?.

2
7

CB s APPROACH PLAY
Options ahead of the ball !
5

4
1
10

8
6

11

LIKELY PASSING REQUIREMENTS ?

3

2
7

LIKELY PASSING REQUIREMENTS

Straight driven over 50 60 yds to change play trajectory !
Driven with backspin on the 30 40 yd diagonals to CF.
5 30 40 yds.
Clipped up to strikers chest / feet
Disguised ground diagonal to MF or shadow off the front.
9
4
Fast ground pass to strikers
/ No 10 feet W infield.
Measured to space for runners eg FB outside of foot or chip
Wall passes with MF players on carrying ball forward. 1
10

8
6

Coaches work
with
defenders !

CB s APPROACH PLAY

11
3

Options ahead of the ball !

CREATING OUTLETS AHEAD OF THE BALL

MF INTER-CHANGES
2

Inter-changes

4
10

W and FB INTER-CHANGE

11
3

THREE MAN ROTATION

8
11

INTRODUCTORY PRACTICES

Defenders in possession
30 yds

30 yds

Changing the play across the back.

Deliver forward and diagonal passes.

Below
head
height

Defenders in possession

Changing the play across the back.

Deliver forward and diagonal passes.
Varied receiving movements Into the box after the passers first touch.

Defenders in possession

40 50 yds

25 30 yds

Changing the play across the back.

Deliver forward and diagonal passes
Varied distances & off the run.

Aerial and
Ground
passes

Defenders in possession
30 yds

30 yds

Changing the play across the back.

Deliver forward and diagonal passes
Defenders inside circles.

Below head
height.

Defenders in possession

D
I
S
T
A
N
C
E
Appropriate Distance
Changing the play across the back.
Three Central Backs

Support and awareness

CONTENT

Additions !

First touch quality

Disguise of pass

Choice of pass

Re-change the play

Pass quality
(aerial,ground )

Both feet any surface !

Run with the ball.

Combination play

Receiving skill
For self.
For others.

Player for
one touch
drop off !

Changing the play across the back.

Deliver forward and diagonal passes.

Support player
Outside the
CBs

Player for
one touch
drop off !

Changing the play across the back.

Deliver forward and diagonal passes.

Involve Midfield players in play with central backs.

Encourage MF inter-play and movement.

Involve Midfield players in play with central backs.

Central backs run with the ball and replaced by MF.

Support and awareness

First touch quality

CONTENT

Additions !

Both feet any surface !

Disguise of pass
MF movement

Choice of pass

Run with the ball.

MF Pass links

Re-change the play

Combination play
MF players inter-play

Pass quality
(aerial,ground )

MF replace Dfs

Receiving skill
For self.
For others.

CONTENT ?

Opposed practice with one opponent playing against

the central backs in each half.

CONTENT ?

Opposed practice with one opponent playing against

the central backs in each area.
Two midfield players in central zone

Player for
overlapping
play

Holding
line for
opponents

Opposed practice with two opponent playing against

the central backs in each half.

DEFENDERS DELIVERY OF LONG PASSES

T
20yds

4 v 2 deliver long to T

2 defenders who change zones

10 yds

20 yds

4 attackers with one as the target playe

T
20 yds

UNIT AND TEAM PRACTICES

Back 4 playing
round back.
Re-change the play !

Ball transferred
across back 4 and
delivered to
opposite back 4
OR to GK / T.

GK / T

GK / T

Spread.
Speed of passes.
Readjust position.
BACK PLAYERS ?
a)
b)
c)
d)

NON-PARTICIPANTS
PLATFORM PLAYERS
PLAY-MAKERS
PENETRATORS

Back 4 playing
round back.

MF operate both
ways.
Ball transferred
across back 4 and via
MF: delivered to
opposite back 4.

M
T

Back 4 playing
round back.

M
M

Ball transferred
across back 4 and
via MF: delivered
to opposite back
4 from wide play
combinations.

M
T

Spread.
Speed of passes.
Readjust position.

Back 4 playing
round back.

Ball transferred
across back 4 and
CB run with ball or
combine with CMF

Back 4 playing
round back.

Ball transferred
across back 4 and
via MF:
movements ahead
of the back 4

T
M

Back 4 playing
round back.

Ball transferred
across back 4 and
via MF:
movements ahead
of the back 4

M
T

T
M

Back 4 playing
round back.
All MF players are
opposed

Ball transferred across

back 4 and link with
marked MF players.
Striker as target and as
defender against CBs

Back 4 playing out

From the back.

From the GKs possession

play out from back until
ball can be played to Ts
but from over the halfway
line and T continues the
play.

Attacking waves !

Play out 9 (inc GK) v 6 into targets from over way line.
Targets switch the play.
First group of 6 recover as next group of 6 attack including target players.

Attacking waves !

Different start positions for 6

Play out 9 (inc GK) v 6 into targets - from over way line.
Targets switch the play.
First group of 6 recover as next group of 6 attack including
the target players.

11 v 7
Play out until a
player can feed T /
GK with ball and
play continues.

T GK

Play out 11 v 11