Role of the Second Defender "Cover"

Training the Defenders in Cover Position

Purpose:	By the end of this session players will understand how to work together to defend in pairs such that a one versus one is rarely encountered on the field. By learning this they will understand they can provide cover to their teammates while at the same time marking a man on away from the ball. This session teaches the movement of the defenders off the ball and the positioning and communication essential for success.
Equipment:	Cones, pinnies, balls.
Progression:	Unrestricted: The warm up is simple passing and moving with one ball per five players. After a pass curve a run in as first defender, then “grab” a second player who comes in as a second “cover” defender. Then repeat by passing to someone else. Restricted: This builds from the first defender session and becomes three versus two in a small grid. The players are 100% but do not try to tackle and win, instead they work on forcing the ball and not being split by working together One goal with counters: Again, this builds on the first defender and becomes one versus two and builds into two versus two. Play to lines then to large goals. The emphasis in this session is forcing the attacker and working together. Two goals: The session ends with five versus five in a larger grid. A 3-2 is a good system to play with these numbers. Again the emphasis is on being compact and concentrated on defense.
Coaching Points:	All first defender coaching points Cover: communicate direction to force play Move in more slowly on an angle taking away passing lanes. Be one touch away Cover, spin away to take away thru ball Be far enough away to not be split but not too far away as to be split on a pass Work in to a good space but not in as hard as the first defender. Don’t chase the ball as it moves Tackle when second defender communicates to tackle Double when second defender communicates to tackle Do not be flat: vertical or horizontal, instead be on angles to take away dribble and through balls. First and second defenders work together Cover: curve the run to take away through balls Do not chase the ball but instead work together switching between pressure and cover Double team in corners and on lines Tackle when the attacker makes a mistake

THE SESSION

Activity	Setup
Passing and moving Playin a 50 x 40 One ball per five players. One player knocks in and follows with a forced curved run to pressure the ball, a second moves in as cover defender Pass to someone else, passer becomes defender, second player must go cover Coaching Points: Pressure-forced curve run pressuring the ball to force in one direction, sideways on. Cover: communicate direction to force play Move in more slowly on an angle taking away passing lanes. Be one touch away

3v2 Possession Play in a 10x12 Three attackers versus two defenders Defenders are passive, meaning full speed but not trying to win the ball, forcing the play by working together Coaching Points: Curve your run to force the play Cover, spin away to take away thru ball Be far enough away to not be split but not too far away as to be split on a pass

1 v 2 to lines in a 30 x 10 Same as first defender game but now with 2 defenders Red play ball in to blue. Blue receive and attack Make it take it. New blue attacks new Red If Red wins, turn away and play back to red Attacker who lost ball is now defender Progress to 2v2 Progress to playing to large goal in 30 x 15 and a counter goal; first 1v2, then 2v2 Coaching Points: First defender, under control force play Second defender: communicate where to force, when to tackle Work quickly to a good cover position but do not get in as hard and quickly as the first defender. Don’t chase the ball as it moves Tackle when second defender communicates to tackle Double when second defender communicates to tackle Do not be flat (vertical or horizontal), instead be on angles to take away dribble and through balls.

5v5 to large goals Play in a 45 x 35 Five versus five Play a 3-2 (3 forwards, 2 defenders) Coaching Points First and second defenders work together Force the play in one direction Communicate\ Cover: curve the run to take away through balls Do not chase the ball but instead work together switching between pressure and cover Double team in corners and on lines Tackle when the attacker makes a mistake

Additional points for working as a unit as 1st and 2nd defenders.
The ball begins with the red attacker (#2) in the upper left corner. The ball is played into attacker #1. Defender #1 makes a curved run to pressure one blue. He is not attempting to win the ball but to force it back to where it came from. He is showing to cover. Defender #2 moves into cover to take away the split pass. His run does not need to be as curved as he needs to read the first defender and slide into a position that will both allow him to cover attacker #1 but be able to step and pressure #2 if the ball works back to him.

It can be seen that defender #1 has curved his run and taken away the passing lane, forcing attacker #1 to pass to #2. Even if attacker #1 tries to split the defenders, defender #2 is providing cover eliminating the chance of being split as he can intercept that pass. It can be seen that the curved run by defender #1 has dictated play, taken attacker #3 out of the game, and forced the ball back to the middle. As the ball moves to attacker #2, defender #2 curves his run to pressure the ball and shows to cover. Defender #2 turns away and drops into cover to take away the split. Notice the deep drop of the cover defender. By turning away from the ball for a split second, he is able to drop into cover but also take away the passing lane to attacker #3. Attacker #3 has worked the line trying to work behind the defense, but the work of the first and second defender has essentially eliminated him from play.

After successfully forcing the ball back twice, blue is unable to work back quickly enough to prevent the pass to attacker #3. They would in a position similar to what is shown, in the middle, not quite to cutting off the passing lane and not quite to cover. Who pressures now? The player with the best position to the ball. If defender #1 goes, he is chasing the ball. Therefore #2 is in the best position, so he needs to become pressure and defender #1needs to drop to cover.

Attacker 2 has made the pass to #1 who passes to #3. Attacker 2 then moves to support #3 by moving to the touchline. Defenders #1 and #2 are currently in the middle and fairly ineffective. Therefore Defender #2 curves in to pressure attacker #3. His curved run prevents attacker #3 from passing to #2. Defender #1 drops into cover. His curved run dropping into cover takes away the passing lane preventing the split from attacker #3 to attacker #2.