Gafferbook
Defending ยท U10 to adult

Recovery run: race the attacker

A defender passes to an attacker, then has to sprint back on the outside of a line of cones and catch them before they shoot. Teaches recovering goal-side and the right angle of run.

U10 to adultAges
Pairs plus a keeperPlayers
35 x 20 mArea
12 minsTime

Your assistant coach: turn this drill into a full session, plan the weeks around it and tell me how it went.

โž• Put it in tonight's session๐Ÿ—“ Build my season around itโœ๏ธ Make my own version

Set-up

  • Line of cones running diagonally towards goal.
  • Attacker inside the line, defender outside.

Equipment: Cones, goal, balls

How it works

  1. Defender passes to the attacker and gets a return, then plays it back.
  2. Attacker dribbles inside the cones; defender recovers outside.
  3. Attacker can only shoot after the last cone. Swap roles, alternate sides.

Coaching points

  • Recover towards your own goal, not towards the ball.
  • Get goal-side first, then tackle.
  • Don't dive in from behind.

Add this drill to a session plan โ†’

Make it easier

  • Defender gets a head start

Make it harder

  • Attacker can shoot from anywhere

AttackersDefendersKeeper / neutral- - โ†’ Passโ†’ Runใ€ฐโ†’ Dribble

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