By iCoachFootball.pro 
Table of Contents
Introduction
This training session from iCoachFootball.pro aims to improve the ability of your defenders to defend well from the opponent’s cross. This evolving defense soccer drills will allow them to confront a multitude of centers, you will be able to define your defensive principles (zonal or individual marking, zone of intervention of your goalkeeper, etc.) and, through your corrective interventions and your feeds -back, help them better manage these defensive situations.
Defense soccer drills: how to defend from center (zonal and individual)
Goals scored following a cross are an important part of a football team’s offensive efficiency.
These centers can be of numerous types depending on the location on the field from which they are addressed as well as their shapes (returning or outgoing center, aerial or ground centers, rolled or stretched centers, recessed center, 1st or 2nd post, etc.).
Your defenders must therefore be ready to intervene on different centers and to manage runs or attacking positions collectively and individually.
In addition, goals scored indirectly, in the continuity of the action of the center (ball poorly cleared or cleared in a bad area, corners conceded, fouls in the area, csc, etc.) significantly increase the impact of the actions of focuses on the end result.
It is therefore essential for your defenders to be in the right intervention zones and to master the gestures, attitudes, postures, communication, which will make them the most PERFORMANT AND EFFECTIVE when defending on centers.
IN ALL EXERCISES, the coach must be vigilant on the contact surfaces used by the defender at the time of the intervention and on the zone in which the ball returns.
BE CAREFUL OF THE DANGER OF FULL AXIS CLEAR BALLS AND CONCEEDED CORNERS
Exercise 1 – SPECIFIC DEFENDER SESSION FROM CENTER
Material
- CUPS
- PEGS
- MINI-GOALS
Organization
- Alternate between 2 working groups (10 players +2 goalkeepers)
- Sequence on 4 balls in a row (2 on each side)
Instructions
- Starting position of the 2 central defenders = outside the area
- The player in possession must eliminate his stake
- Center from zone 1
- If the ball is recovered = restart in the mini-goals or gates to enhance the recovery
Variant
- modify the positions of centrals and/or attackers at the start of the action
- use false feet for re-entrant centers
Expected behaviors
- Pelvis/shoulder orientations that allow you to quickly defend towards the goal
- Quality of support to be dynamic and be able to intervene effectively
- Taking information on the crosser and the movements of the attackers on the surface, maintaining control by positioning yourself between the ball and the attacker
- Communication between the two defenders and the goalkeeper to manage the attackers’ calls, their markings and announce the intervention
Chronology
12/15min
Exercise 2 – Defense soccer drills From Cross
Material
- CUPS
- PEGS
- MINI-GOALS
Organization
- Alternate between 2 working groups (10 players +2 goalkeepers)
- Sequence on 4 balls in a row (2 on each side)
Instructions
- Starting position of the 2 central defenders = entry into the area
- The player in possession must eliminate his stake
- Center from zone 2
- Possibility of going inside to center (center only, no hitting from eccentric players)
- If the ball is recovered = restart in the mini-goals or gates to enhance the recovery
Variant
- modify the positions of centrals and/or attackers at the start of the action
- use false feet for re-entrant centers
Exercise 3 – SPECIFIC DEFENDER SESSION in the zone
Defense soccer drills (Zonal)
Material
- CUPS
- PEGS
- MINI-GOALS
Organization
- Alternate between 2 working groups (10 players +2 goalkeepers)
- Sequence on 4 balls in a row (2 on each side)
Instructions
- Starting position of the 2 central defenders = in the area
- The player in possession must eliminate his stake
- Center from zone 3
- If the ball is recovered = restart in the mini-goals or gates to enhance the recovery
Variant
- modify the positions of centrals and/or attackers at the start of the action
- False foot option can be interesting if using the less good foot for center or center from the outside of the strong foot
Expected behaviors
- Pelvis/shoulder orientations that allow you to quickly defend towards the goal
- Quality of support to be dynamic and be able to intervene effectively
- Taking information on the crosser and the movements of the attackers on the surface, maintaining control by positioning yourself between the ball and the attacker
- Communication between the two defenders and the goalkeeper to manage the attackers’ calls, their markings and announce the intervention
- Clearly define the zone of intervention of the goalkeeper and central players (individual/zone or mixed marking)
Chronology
12/15min
Exercise 4 – Defense specific drills (Zonal)
Defense soccer drills
Material
- CUPS
- PEGS
- MINI-GOALS
Organization
- Alternate between 2 working groups (10 players +2 goalkeepers)
- Sequence on 4 balls in a row (2 on each side)
Instructions
- Starting position of the 2 central defenders = entry into the area
- 2 against 1 in the hallway
- Cross from zone 2 (possibility of crossing from Z1 and possibility of scoring from z3 for the lane player)
- If the ball is recovered = restart in the mini-goals or gates to enhance the recovery
Coach’s choice
- It is up to the coach to define the full-back’s course:
- wingman chase
- returns immediately to the surface
- Define the role of the central
- full-back cover
- keep position on the surface
- Define the goalkeeper’s intervention zone and the surface defense mode (individual / zone / mixed)
Expected behaviors
- Pelvis/shoulder orientations that allow you to quickly defend towards the goal
- Quality of support to be dynamic and be able to intervene effectively
- Taking information on the crosser and the movements of the attackers on the surface, maintaining control by positioning yourself between the ball and the attacker
- Communication between the two defenders and the goalkeeper to manage the attackers’ calls, their markings and announce the intervention
- Clearly define the zone of intervention of the goalkeeper and central players (individual/zone or mixed marking)
Chronology
12/15min