Soccer Defending Drills
Good defending starts with one player: closing the ball carrier down quickly, slowing them as they get close, and showing them where you want them to go. These soccer defending drills build that individual technique first, then add teammates so players learn to press and cover together.
Each drill is animated so you can see the angles of approach and the pressing movements. For the tactical side of pressing, see our guide to what pressing is.
1v1 Defending Drill in a Channel
Close down, show the attacker one way and win the ball.
Counter Pressing Drill: Win It Back in Five Seconds
Lose it and win it back in five seconds.
Pressing Trigger Drill
Three forwards wait for a pass to the full-back, then press together.
1v1 Soccer Drill: Beat the Defender and Score
A defender serves in and closes down; the attacker tries to beat them and score.
3v1 Rondo
Three keep the ball from one in a small box.
Coaching tips
- Coach the approach: sprint to close the space, then slow down and get side-on.
- Show the attacker one way, usually away from goal or onto their weaker foot.
- Stay on your feet; tackle only when the ball is loose or the attacker takes a heavy touch.
- Add a second defender to teach cover once the 1v1 technique is solid.
Turn these drills into a session
Add any drill to the free session planner with one click: it arrives with its diagram, setup and coaching points, ready to print as a PDF. To change the numbers or animate your own version, open it in DrawTactics.
Open the free session plannerFAQ
What is the best 1v1 defending drill?
A 1v1 in a narrow channel is hard to beat: the defender serves the ball, closes down and tries to stop the attacker crossing the end line. The narrow space makes the defender's approach and body shape decide the outcome.
How do you teach young players to defend?
Start with getting goal-side and staying on their feet, in small 1v1 games. Introduce pressing as a team later, once players can defend on their own.