How to Coach Soccer Defending in 3v3 Games

Defending in soccer is 50 percent of the game of soccer, but quite often it is neglected as a theme in soccer coaching. The principles of defending dictate that a good defense consists of pressure, cover, balance and consolidation. Although a full scrimmage, or high number small-sided games such as 7v7 or 8v8, can be a good tool for coaching team defense, 3v3 games boil the defensive ideas into the smallest number necessary. When the game is reduced to the smallest size possible, it becomes easier for players to learn what to do.

Things You'll Need

  • Cones
  • Balls
  • Pinnies
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Instructions

    • 1

      Ensure that players have a solid knowledge of the principles of pressure, cover, balance and consolidation. Essentially, pressure is the act of the nearest defender in trying to delay the ball carrier, contain the attack and eventually tackle for the ball. Cover is the act of getting a defender or defenders behind the pressuring player, protecting the goal and close enough to step up and pressure if the first defender is beaten. Balance is merely the balancing of the field, ensuring that the back post area is covered, whether the ball is central or wide. Consolidation is basically the idea of keeping the spaces between defenders small to reduce the space attackers can play in.

    • 2

      Set up 3v3 grids of 30 yards by 30 yards square. Place a goal at either end, 3 yards wide. This is the basic setup for the 3v3 games. Do a quick walk-through of the defensive shapes on the field related to ball position. When the ball is central, the defensive shape is a triangle, pointing at the ball. When the ball is on the wings, the shape is a diagonal line from the ball to the back post.

    • 3

      Place three small goals across the end lines to work on moving as a unit in relation to the movement of the ball--one central goal and two goals at the corners. This will encourage the attacking team to switch play from wing to wing, which creates ample repetitions to coach proactive movement from the defense. It is important that the defenders move as one close unit--left, right, up and down in relation to the movement of the ball.

    • 4

      To work on correct defensive depth, use an offside rule and call it aggressively and strictly during the game. This should encourage the defense to move up whenever the ball is passed backward. When the ball is played forward, the defense can make a choice to play an offside trap or to drop deeper to cover the attackers making blindside or goalward runs.

    • 5

      If the 3v3 games are too fast, condition them such that the attacking team must play a certain number of passes before they can score; alternatively, the condition might be that all players on the attacking team must touch the ball before a shot can be taken. This slows the game down sufficiently to allow the defenders time to get the proper shapes in defense.