Defending Sessions Clearing Away from Goal Intercepting Passes Movement to Intercept Restricting Attacker Space Recovering to Intercept Transition to Defend the Cross Stepping Back to Clear Intercept to Transition Closing Down Space & Transition Clearing the ball to Transition Full Back Transition to Play Intercepting Short & Long Preventing Passes Through Transition into 1 v 1 Moving to Win the Ball Movement to Intercept Transition to clear Defending the cross Stepping in to Intercept Intercepting to play forward Stepping high to transition Intercepting forward passes Engaging to win the ball Defensive movement to receive Denying attacker moving forward Body shape travelling backwards Stepping & dropping movements Recover goal side & intercept Cover ground quickly to intercept Sharp, fast feet to block Recover towards goal to intercept Heading clear to transition Recovering towards goal to intercept the ball Dropping to receive on the back foot to step in with the ball Retaining body shape when changing direction to clear Ability to change angles & transition to head & intercept Stepping out to head clear & react quickly to block Recovery run across the pitch to intercept a pass Travelling back towards goal to intercept the ball Accelerating quickly to retain a position to block the shot Stepping and dropping to win the ball in the air Intercepting the pass to transition to attack the ball Receiving to play forward before transitioning to head clear Reacting quickly to step and accelerate/drop to clear Movement and body shape when travelling backwards Defending balls across the box and transitioning to attack the ball Travelling across the goal quickly to intercept the ball Speed and agility to recover quickly and defend the goal Stepping up to head and footwork to travel across quickly Jockeying down the line & movement to clear balls Full back opening out and stepping up the pitch movements Agile and quick feet to drop and step up to head clear Weaving to shuffle out and head the ball clear Quick reactions to travel back towards goal Stepping in to intercept, drop to head & reacting to block Reacting to step/drop to intercept the ball and play forward Body shape when jockeying and travelling backwards Sharp footwork to intercept the ball and transition to receive Jockeying down the line and shuffling back inside Stepping out quickly to deflect the attacker away from goal ABC’s to weave quickly and defend the goal Varying movements and body position to step/drop to block Deflecting away from goal and defending the cross Quick transitions to protect the goal and defend ball into the box Quick transitions to head clear, play forward and fast footwork Fast feet to step, shuffle, and backpedal to attack the ball React quickly to block and take the loose ball to play forward Explode out to block and drop/step to head the ball clear Changing body shape to face the ball and block the pass Defensive movements to intercept, head and transition ABC’s to explode out and prevent attacker driving into space Forward passes and react to work the feet quickly to block Step/drop as a unit to intercept/head the ball clear Fast feet to move, block and transition to play out Sharp footwork to intercept the ball and drop to head clear Receive to play down the line and transition to defend the cross Heading clear to step up the pitch and transition Play out and step up to react and close down Shuffling across and reacting to step and drop quickly Sharp movements to head, intercept and block the ball Move onto the ball to play forward and transition to attack header Attacking the ball when stepping and dropping Body shape when jockeying, ability to block and transition Agility and quickness to head, intercept and play forward Accelerate and recover quickly to block the shot Agility and reactions to step/drop to intercept the ball ABC’s to head clear and work feet quickly to block Shuffling and quick feet to block the pass Movement to step and drop to head and play forward Recovery run to beat the attacker and block the shot Jockeying back towards goal to defend the cross Shuffling out to attack the ball and transition to cover ground quickly Step and drop to head clear and transition to play forward Close down to jockey and transition to play forward Agility to block the pass and transition to cross Neat footwork to travel back and attack the ball in the air Step and drop to travel quickly to show quick feet to block Open out to play, step and attack the ball Shuffle and slide to step out and restrict the attacker space Open out and play to step, drop to head and block Change of movement & direction to attack and clear the cross Transition drill focusing on heading, passing and blocking Heading when travelling backwards to transition to shuffle Varying movements to head and receive to play Quick feet to step out, intercept and shuffle Stepping out and dropping back to head and intercept Open out to play forward and react step out and attack the ball Changing movements & direction sharply to intercept the ball Positive touch to play out and travelling quickly to block Intercepting and heading to transition to play forward Step and drop to head clear and react to block the shot Close down attacker to force away from goal to block the shot Reacting to travel quickly to tackle the dribbler Travelling quickly to head clear and step out to intercept Attack the header, step to intercept & win the loose ball Open out to play forward, reaction to travel and block Close down the attacker and prevent them turning to goal Transitioning quickly to block and protect the house Body shape to step and drop to clear the ball Receive and play to transition to intercept and heading Step up and drop to attack header, move quick to block Quick feet to intercept and travel to deal with aerial ball Open out to play, step out to deal with the loose ball Jockeying, retrieve the ball and play to defend 1 v 1 Transitions to intercept and head the ball clear from goal Step up to travel back quickly to receive/head Clearing the cross to transition to start the attack Intercept to move quickly to travel across and block Drop to head clear, react to narrow angle to block Receive to play, transition to head and drop to block Controlling the ball and moving quickly to block Step up to intercept, moving quickly to receive and switch play Travel quick to block, move round to attack and head clear Stepping up quickly to head clear and react to block Jockey and body shape, step up to receive and play forward Quick feet and agility to intercept, head and block Step in to intercept, body shape when back pedalling to head Receiving to play out, quick reactions to travel and block Transition to close down and jockey, react to retrieve the ball Stepping and dropping to head clear and control a high ball Receiving skills and transition to get across the goal and block Shuffle, slide and adapt body shape to move, head and receive Weave through to head, transition to intercept and receive Intercepting, jockeying and body shape to attack the header Body shape to travel and block the cross and head clear Full Back: Clearing, blocking and transition to drive forward Body shape and range of movements to adapt and clear Showing the attacker wide and transition to play forward Jockeying, body position and recovery runs to block Defensive interceptions, headers and control to play forward Conditioning drill focusing on stepping, recover & intercepting Body shape to see the ball and clear off both feet Ball control, heading and recovering to block Body shape when jockeying, receiving and recovering to block Fast feet, body shape to block and transition to play Defensive circuit: Step/drop to defend varying situations Open out to play, head and drop to block Moving across and round sharply to block the shot Adjusting the body shape when changing direction
