Deal with the ball over the top
Centre-backs and keeper practise the long ball played in behind: who goes, who covers, when the keeper sweeps. Stops the simple goal that grassroots teams concede most.
Your assistant coach: turn this drill into a full session, plan the weeks around it and tell me how it went.
Set-up
- Two centre-backs on the edge of a line 30 m from goal, keeper in the box.
- A server in midfield with balls and one attacker who races the defenders.
Equipment: Goal, cones, balls
How it works
- Server plays a ball over the top or down the side.
- Keeper calls 'Keeper!' or 'Away!'; nearest defender goes, the other covers the inside.
- Attacker races for it; defenders win it and play out to the server.
Coaching points
- Turn and run, don't backpedal.
- Keeper: early, loud call.
- The covering defender protects the middle of the goal.
Add this drill to a session plan โ
Make it easier
- Attacker starts behind the defenders
Make it harder
- Two attackers
AttackersDefendersKeeper / neutral- - โ Passโ Runใฐโ Dribble
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See the drill โRecovery runs: get goal-side
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See the drill โJockeying in pairs
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See the drill โ