1. ..
DEVELOPING CREATIVE DEFENDERS

2. GAME STYLE CHANGES SINCE 1992 !
FUTURE FOOTBALL
WILL BE :
FASTER.- ball speed between players,player movement, decision making,technical implementation.
UNORTHODOX.- un-expected,unusual skills will be necessary.
VARIED game tempo,technique requirements,game styles
INTELLIGENT individual,team-tactical decision making.
DISGUISED deceit to beat the block and stubborn defenders.
POSSESSION BASED.- ball retention,precision and incision with possession.
INVENTIVE.- more “solo” players and “mavericks” will flourish.
UNIVERSALITY – will be paramount - all must play as necessary.
INSTANCY – will be crucial. (NOW is the time.)
ATHLETICISM Significantly enhanced.
GAME STYLE CHANGES SINCE 1992 !

3. FUTURE DEFENDING REQUIREMENTS ?

4. Defending Implications.
Longer defending phases – capability for prolonged defending.
More defensive decisions and directional changes per game.
More split second directional changes to make at high speed.
Calculate ball speed and trajectory rapidly.
Increased demand for mobility range in lower body especially.
Increased demand for agility, acceleration, deceleration, explosion.
Increased demand for lower limb and foot speed.
Increased demand for rapid changes in stride cadence.
Quicker defensive activity in response to unorthodoxy and speed.
Excellence in defending alone in counter attack situations. (ie at speed some yds from goal.) moving backwards ,sideways etc
Increased demand to defend against quick interplay near to goal.
Defensive intelligence ( “knowing”) and ability to read and respond to events will be paramount.

5. “ Talented players need attention – they need specialist attention ! “
POSITION SPECIFIC ?
“ Talented players need attention –
they need specialist attention ! “
A Robertson 2003

6. POSITION SPECIFIC ? Under 16 Team Coach Under 15 Team Coach
Defending
Coach
Under 16 Team Coach
Under 15 Team Coach
Under 14 Team Coach
Midfield
Coach
Attacking
Coach
AND Generic Team Technical & Tactical Practice

7. POSITION SPECIFIC COACH
75 – 90 minutes
One (two) sessions per week
Focussed,detailed,learning & practice
Number of touches / repetitions = overload
Specific positional circumstances = specificity
Relevance and appropriateness – age / events
Substantial learning curriculum = progression
More effective use of time ?
Rugby Union
Cricket
Athletics
American Football
Hockey
Football – Goalkeepers !
“ What did they do tonight son to make you a better ? “

8. + = POSITION SPECIFIC ? Under 16 Team Coach Under 15 Team Coach
Defending
Coach
Under 16 Team Coach
Under 15 Team Coach
Under 14 Team Coach
Midfield
Coach
Attacking
Coach
TECHNICAL
COACH + =
ACCOUNTABILITY

9. = + POSITION SPECIFIC ? Under 16 Team Coach Under 15 Team Coach
Defending
Coach
Under 16 Team Coach
Under 15 Team Coach
Under 14 Team Coach
Midfield
Coach
Attacking
Coach = +
TECHNICAL COACH
ACCOUNTABILITY
Different Systems
Different Scenarios
Different Tactics
3 x 30 minutes
Coach Interventions
ARRANGED GAMES – Club v club
- Internal Teams

10. DIFFERENT TACTICS
Man for man + SW.
Man mark “certain” opponents.
10 yd channels for W and FB v 1 oppt.
Press for 30 mins.
Drop for 30 mins.
Free defending for 30 mins.
Playing 1 up.
Playing 3 up narrow.
Show infield / show outside.
Opposite wide players.
Opposite full – backs.
ETC ETC ETC
DIFFERENT SCENARIOS
GK D & D.
Play out from Back – with 3 or 4 or 2 !
Holding MF Player.
Playing with / against 10.
Full court Press.
Half Court Press.
One forward only to defend in A 1/3rd.
Two forwards defend in A1/2.
ETC ETC ETC

11. POSITION SPECIFIC

12. DEFENSIVE PRACTICE
CURRICULUM ?

13. PREMIER LEAGUE ( averages)
POSSESSIONS per GAME 48 44 50 40
PASS % SUCCESS % % % %
FULL BACKS
CENTRE BACKS
MIDFIELD FORWARDS
Prozone

14. Average contact TIME on the ball.
PREMIER LEAGUE
2.67 seconds
SPANISH LEAGUE
2.75 seconds
MAJOR LEAGUE
2.74 seconds
INTERNATIONAL
2.94 seconds
AVERAGE NUMBER OF CONTACTS
TOUCHES
2.04
TOUCHES
2.29
TOUCHES
2.03
TOUCHES
2.17
IMPLICATIONS FOR PLAYER DEVELOPMENT ?

15. INDIVIDUAL PLAYER Practice Content
Defensive Technical Content.
Defending alone in a Counter Attack context.
Showing “infield,outside and nothing”.
“Screening” opponents preferred pass options.
Pressing and containing opponents. (from front and rear.)
Interceptions, Spoiling, Challenging, Blocking- passes, crosses and strikes.
Defending player inter-changes.
Marking and tracking opponents.
“Shifting” and “turning” in “tight” defending situations – defending off-balance.
Heading from a variety of ball trajectories.
One touch clearance , “directing “ skills - head,volley etc
Developing a range and craft when passing the ball.
Running with the ball.
Bodywork – receiving and protecting the ball.
Individual and unit
AWARENESS.
Individual, group, functional practice.

16. CENTRAL BACKS

17. PSYCHOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES ?

18. PSYCHOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES !
“ I was born to defend.”
Hugo Montero
Uruguay
Determination
Stoicism
Durability
Mental toughness
Resilience
Courage – mental and physical.
Appetite for defending – a “love” for defending !
Alertness
Awareness
Concentration
Belief
Composure
“ You have to love not having the ball.”
New Zealand All Blacks

19. CENTRAL BACKS – SKILLS ?

20. CENTRAL BACKS - Skills required
DEFENSIVE SKILLS
Reading, understanding and anticipating the development of play.
Positioning accurately.
Capability to accept changes of responsibility and act accordingly.
Accurate marking and tracking skills.
Ability to intercept passes and crosses.
Ability to screen passing options and block passes and crosses.
Ability to “spoil” opponents possession and to contain when they are in possession.
Ability to press and “show” opponents in various directions as required.
Ability to defend alone on counter-attacks or in static circumstances.
Ability to challenge for the ball and win possession.
Ability and courage to block shots at goal
Ability to support, and cover fellow defenders and spaces as required.
Heading ability.
1 touch intercept and “directing the ball” skills with feet,head and body.
Never taken by surprise – awareness and use of all senses !

21. CENTRAL BACKS – skills required.
ATTACKING SKILLS
Ability to support others accurately.
Reliable, assured and varied first touch.
Ability to accurately pass the ball over a variety of distances.
Ability to travel with the ball at varying speeds.
Ability to perform a “safe trick” when necessary.
Ability to disguise intent when receiving and releasing the ball.
Ability to participate in combination play.
Ability to protect the ball if under pressure.

22. Central Backs –Technical Practice ?
Wide range of receiving skills – ground, aerial, under pressure .
Carrying the ball at varying speeds if appropriate.
Ground and aerial passes off the run.
Medium and Long Range Passing. (Ground and aerial passes.)
Long driven, diagonal passes. (50 – 60 yds little backlift.)
“Changing the play passes” especially diagonal play changes.
Measured passes to and for front players- 40 yds +.(aerial, ground.)
“Fast” and “hidden” ground passes. (15 – 30 yds. – into & through MF especially )
Safe trick !
All heading skills- straight, across field, diagonals, “drop-off heading” etc
Marking,tracking and back-tracking skills.
Interception ,spoiling and challenging skills.
Blocking shots and crosses.
Defending “dummies.”
Defending alone against Counter attacking players. (Alone ! and in pairs and units.)

23. WIDE BACKS

24. MODERN FULL BACK CONTACT SCATTERGRAPH

25. WIDE BACKS TECHNICAL PROFILE
PREMIERSHIP BEST
AVERAGE
Total Passes
Successful Passes
Pass Success %
Passes forward
Passes received
Average no: touches
Headers
Tackles
Interceptions
Crosses
Shots 36 27 78 20 10 4 16 2

26. WIDE BACK – necessities.
Able to defend in 1 v 1 and 2 v 2 .
Can “smell” danger.
A range of passing – channel,diagonal,behind
Crossing ability on the move at ¾ pace.
Ability to over and underlap.
Play “wall-passes” on the move.
Finish 1 and 2 touch.
1,000 league games
78 International caps.

27. S K I L L S R E Q U I R E D
Passing range and capability over a variety of distances.
Short range inter-passing and combination skills with others.
Excellence in first touch – D – D – D .
Ability to run with the ball.
Crossing and passing ability when moving outside and inside the opponents defensive structure.
Ability to combine play with others to attack the penalty box with or without the ball eg wall-passes,1 v 1 and link with others.
Positioning, marking and all 1 v 1 defending skills. – pressing, intercepting, challenging for the ball, containing opponents,blocking passes ,shots and crosses.
Defending skills in far-post and central defending locations eg heading and clearance skills.
Combined defending skills eg wall-passes ,overlaps ,take-overs etc

28. WIDE BACKS- Technical Practice.
Receiving and Running with the ball.
Short range “combination “ plays.
Assured “fast” passes into feet over 20 – 30 yds.
“Bent passes” forward – 30 yds +.
Crossing the ball and operating infield in the A1/3rd.
Supplying players inside the penalty box.
Measured passes for front players-ground / aerial.
Understanding “combination-play skills” with and without the ball.
All 1 v 1 defending skills.
“Showing infield and outside”.
Blocking crosses.
Defending at the far post.

29. OVERALL DEFENDER’S QUALITIES !

30. DEFENDERS WHO - - -
Receive the ball and play in and from the defending third of the field.
Run with the ball into MF and beyond with speed and control.
Are able to combine play with MF players intelligently on entering the MF areas.
Can deliver passes with either foot and any surface over a variety of distances with deception and spin if necessary.
Know how and are able to, release appropriate passes into players located in MF areas.
Are able to provide forward placed players with appropriate passes behind and in front of the defence.
Understand the priorities of defending and the concepts of defensive safety and risk.
Can read and predict the play and are then decisive when making decisions.
Are able to defend in 1 v 1 situations from static and fluent circumstances e.g Counter attacks.
Understand the priorities in individual defending circumstances e.g Intercept,spoil etc
Can defend with composure and accuracy.
Have explosive speed over 5 – 15 yds.
Have “pace” ,and explosiveness in their general movement.
Have “spring” if not height when competing in aerial challenges.
Are mentally “adaptable” in a variety of defending circumstances.

31. TEAM TACTICAL PLAY FOR DEFENDERS

32. STARTING ATTACKS FROM THE BACK
WHY ?

33. Playing from the back – Why ?
To provide pre-determined players with possession in chosen situations.
To move the ball to designated areas of the field.
To provide a more controlled service to players in the middle and attacking thirds.
To create players who are confident to take possession in areas close to their own goal.
To produce an overload of players beyond the first defending line.
To create composed & “ free” supply positions into the attacking third.
To run well established patterns of play that are clearly understood.
etc; etc:

34. TACTICAL OPTIONS

35. 11 7 9 8
GK DRIBBLE 4 2 10 5 3 6
PLAY OR PRESS
DESIGNATED TARGET
AREA

36. BUILD UP FROM THE DEFENDING THIRD7 2 8 5 4 6 9 10 3 11
Assumed Defending Structure.

37. GK IN Possession - Play out against 1 forward7 2
Make the opportunity to play
OR !! 5 8 9 10 4
Team Dispersal
High,wide,long. 6 11 3

38. Playing out against 2 forwards – eg Mexico WC 2010
MAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY OUT OR ? 2 7 5 8 9 4 10 11 6
N0; 4 drop to into / ahead of
Back line. 3

39. Playing out against 2 forwards7 2 5 4 9 8 10 6 11
FB drop to into / ahead of
Back line. 3

40. Playing out against 2 forwards FB push forward No; 37 2 8 9 4 5 10 6 11
1 FB push into wide
MF position. 3

41. Playing out against 2 forwards CB push forward No; 5 10 push forward7 2 8 9 5 6 10 4 3 11

42. CREATING OUTLETS AHEAD OF THE BALL

43. 7
Pass outlets for
FB in M1/3rd 2 5 9 4 8 10 6 11 3

44. 7 2
Options
for CB in possession. 5 4 9 8 10 6
DEPENDENT on :
Team Tactics
Team Style of Play
Capabilities of the Central back –
how to increase range of ability ?. 3 11

45. 7 2 7
CB ‘s APPROACH PLAY
Options ahead of the ball ! 5 9 4 1 10 8 6
LIKELY PASSING REQUIREMENTS ? 11 3

46. 7 2 7
LIKELY PASSING REQUIREMENTS
Straight “driven” over 50 – 60 yds to change play – trajectory !
Driven with backspin on the 30 – 40 yd diagonals to CF.
“Clipped” up to strikers chest / feet – 30 – 40 yds.
Disguised ground diagonal to MF or “shadow” off the front.
Fast ground pass to strikers / No 10 feet “W” infield.
Measured to space for runners eg FB – outside of foot or “chip”
Wall – passes with MF players on carrying ball forward. 5 9 4 1 10 8
Coaches work
with defenders ! 6
CB ‘s APPROACH PLAY
Options ahead of the ball ! 11 3

47. CREATING OUTLETS AHEAD OF THE BALL

48. MF INTER-CHANGES 2 7 8 4

49. Inter-changes 5 4 10

50. W and FB INTER-CHANGE 11 3

51. THREE MAN ROTATION 8 11 3

52. INTRODUCTORY PRACTICES

53. Defenders in possession
30 yds
30 yds
Below head height
Changing the play across the back.
Deliver forward and diagonal passes.

54. Defenders in possession
Changing the play across the back.
Deliver forward and diagonal passes.
Varied receiving movements -
Into the box after the passer’s first touch.

55. Defenders in possession
40 – 50 yds
25 – 30 yds
Aerial and
Ground passes
Changing the play across the back.
Deliver forward and diagonal passes
Varied distances & off the run.

56. Defenders in possession
30 yds
30 yds
Below head height.
Changing the play across the back.
Deliver forward and diagonal passes
Defenders inside circles.

57. Defenders in possession Changing the play across the back.
D I S T A N C E
Appropriate Distance
Changing the play across the back.
Three Central Backs

58. CONTENT Support and awareness Additions ! First touch quality
Disguise of pass
Both feet any surface !
Choice of pass
Run with the ball.
Re-change the play
Combination play
Pass quality
(aerial,ground )
Receiving skill
For self.
For others.

59. Player for one touch drop off !
Changing the play across the back.
Deliver forward and diagonal passes.

60. Player for one touch drop off ! Support player Outside the CB’s
Changing the play across the back.
Deliver forward and diagonal passes.

61. Involve Midfield players in play with central backs.
Encourage MF inter-play and movement.

62. Involve Midfield players in play with central backs.
Central backs run with the ball and replaced by MF.

63. CONTENT Support and awareness Additions ! Both feet any surface !
First touch quality
Disguise of pass
MF movement
Choice of pass
Run with the ball.
MF Pass links
Re-change the play
Combination play
MF players inter-play
Pass quality
(aerial,ground )
Receiving skill
For self.
For others.
MF replace Df’s

64. CONTENT ? Opposed practice with one opponent playing against
the central backs in each half.

65. CONTENT ? Opposed practice with one opponent playing against
the central backs in each area.
Two midfield players in central zone

66. Player for overlapping play
Holding line for opponents
Opposed practice with two opponent playing against
the central backs in each half.

67. DEFENDERS DELIVERY OF LONG PASSEST
4 v 2 deliver long to T
20yds
2 defenders who change zones
10 yds
20 yds
4 attackers with one as the target player T
20 yds

68. UNIT AND TEAM PRACTICES

69. Back 4 playing “round” back.
Re-change the play !
Ball transferred across back 4 and delivered to opposite back 4 OR to GK / T.
GK / T
GK / T
Spread.
Speed of passes.
Readjust position.
BACK PLAYERS ?
NON-PARTICIPANTS
PLATFORM PLAYERS
PLAY-MAKERS
PENETRATORS

70. Back 4 playing “round” back.
MF operate both ways.
Ball transferred across back 4 and via MF: delivered to opposite back 4. M M T T M M

71. Back 4 playing “round” back.
Ball transferred across back 4 and via MF: delivered to opposite back 4 from wide play combinations. M M M T T M
Spread.
Speed of passes.
Readjust position. M M

72. Back 4 playing “round” back.M
Ball transferred across back 4 and CB run with ball or combine with CMF M T T M M

73. Back 4 playing “round” back.M
Ball transferred across back 4 and via MF: movements ahead of the back 4 M T T M M

74. Back 4 playing “round” back.
Ball transferred across back 4 and via MF: movements ahead of the back 4 M M M M T T M M M M

75. Back 4 playing “round” back. All MF players are opposed
Ball transferred across back 4 and link with marked MF players.
Striker as target and as defender against CB’s T T

76. T T Back 4 playing out From the back.
From the GK’s possession play out from back until ball can be played to T’s but from over the halfway line and T continues the play.

77. Play out 9 (inc GK) v 6 into targets from over ½ way line.
Attacking waves ! C
Play out 9 (inc GK) v 6 into targets from over ½ way line.
Targets switch the play.
First group of 6 recover as next group of 6 attack including target players.

78. Different start positions for 6
Attacking waves !
Different start positions for 6 C
Play out 9 (inc GK) v 6 into targets - from over ½ way line.
Targets switch the play.
First group of 6 recover as next group of 6 attack including
the target players.

79. 11 v 7
Play out until a player can feed T / GK with ball and play continues.
T GK

80. Play out 11 v 11