4 v 4 Defend and Delay - Detailed
Session to improve a player’s ability to defend in order to delay an opponent progressing in a match situation.
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| x Good Supply | x 2 Sets | x Good Supply | x 2 |
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X = 40 Yards Y = 40 Yards |
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None |
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A ball forward for the wide player to run onto is intercepted by the defender, play then becomes live. |
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Once possession is lost then every member of that team becomes a defender. Their first role (depending on the area of the pitch the ball was lost in) is to get goal side and create a barrier between the ball and their goal. However, once the ball is intercepted there is, momentarily, a numerical advantage for the team in possession. Until the recovering defender (one of the players from the middle zone) has got into position. Therefore the pressuring defender (the closest player to the ball carrier) should be patient and refrain from over committing to any tackles, unless they are certain that they can win the ball. This is because they are outnumbered and any mistimed challenge can lead to them being beaten easily and the numerical advantage growing over the remaining defenders.
Instead all defenders should understand and appreciate their roles, they are either; the pressuring or supporting defenders, one of the covering defenders or they are responsible for covering space or marking and tracking their own player.
The Pressuring Defender
The closest defender to the ball is the pressuring defender, they have the responsibility to slow the attacker and stop them playing forward, while showing them in one direction (stop, slow, show). They should shut the ball as it travels to the man they are marking. When shutting the player down they should cover the ground as quickly as possible but decelerate as they approach the player. By decelerating as they approach the ball means that the man in possession cannot beat the defender with their first touch by using the defenders momentum against them. Their approach should also be curved so that it cuts off the possibility of a forward pass in a given direction.
Their body shape should be sideways on, knees bent, with their weight on the front of their feet, while being within touching distance of the attacker and always threatening to win the ball. This body shape should be applied to one side of the ball. This means that the attacker can only move in one direction as the other way is blocked. The way to force the attacker is dependent on where the touchline and the supporting defenders are positioned. By adopting such a body shape and position the following is achieved;
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Ease of movement
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Attacker must keep focus on the ball and not observe easily what is occurring around them
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Play is made predictable as the ball can only be moved in one direction. As a result the other defenders can adopt appropriate positions.
Once in position, the defender should seek to stop the player advancing. In order to achieve this they should be patient and do not over commit to any tackles. The longer the can hold up the attacker the more time the other defenders are given to set up and adopt the correct positions. To increase the pressure applied to the attacker and to ensure their attention remains on the ball the defender should feint to tackle.
The Supporting Defender
The next nearest defender to the ball adopts the supporting role. Although their position is effected by the positioning of their player and where the pressuring defender is showing the attacker, the general supporting position they must adopt is:
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Close enough to the pressuring defender so that it creates a 2 v 1 situation and not two 1 v 1 situations. Approximately 2 metres is a good guide.
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At a 45° angle behind the pressuring defender and not square.
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Same body shape as the pressuring defender.
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An open body stance that allows them to see both the ball and their player.
If the pressuring defender is showing the attacker towards the touchline, then the touchline can usually act as the supporting defender. This means that the supporting defender can adopt a position infield.
The supporting defender must also communicate their decisions and actions to the pressuring defender so that they are fully aware and informed about what is happening and who is around them.
The Recovering Defender(s)
They should get goalside as quickly as possible, this may be required to apply pressure to the ball in possession or they may be responsible for an advancing attacker. Regardless of who they are responsible for they should look to get into position as quickly as possible and alleviate some pressure from their team mates. Once they are goalside and marking the defenders can then defend as a 4 v 4.