Training a Flat Four "A ten plan progression"

What follows is a specific training plan in how to train a defense to play a flat four. Unfortunately defense and training defense is a concept that is often overlooked when training youth teams. The reasons for this are varied but the main reason is that many coaches find training a zonal defense to be extremely difficult and time consuming; they are right. In hopes of making this easier the following plan is presented as a systematic way of training a zonal defense. Though it is designed to train a flat four in a 4-4-2 it can also be used to train the flat 3 in a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 as the principles remain the same.

Playing defense is simply hard work. Any team can learn it and greatly influence their game.

1) Session 1: Work of the first defender

Emphasis: The role of the first defender is to force play in one direction.
First Defender Practice Plan #1
First Defender Practice Plan #2

(a) Closing space on the attacker; taking away his space.
(b) Using a forced curve run to force the attacker in one direction
(c) Be sideways on, body positioned on an angle to force in one direction
(d) Be on your toes
(e) Do not get cut and thus eliminated from play
(f) Do not lunge and get eliminated from play
(g) Be patient, when the attacker makes a mistake either step and tackle or turn and seal to win possession of the ball

2) Session 2: Work of the second defender

Emphasis: Providing cover to the pressure (first) defender
Second Defender Practice Plan

(a) Be at an appropriate distance away and at a good angle
(b) to help your defensive partner
(c)) to also be able to step and defend versus nearby attackers
(d) Communicate with the pressure defender on where you are and where to force play
(e) When appropriate double team to win possession.
(f) Do not chase the ball. As ball moves you move. Pressure and cover defender must work together.
(g) Do not get split

3) Session 3: Work of the third defender

Emphasis: Providing balance to the pressure and cover defenders
Third Defender Practice Plan
1st/2nd/3rd Defender Practice Plan

(a) Work with the pressure and cover defenders to provide balance and depth
(b) Communication
(c) Squeezing and Flexing
(d) “See ball, see man”
(e) Understanding diagonals and body position|
(f) Reading body cues

4) Session 4: The role of recovery defenders when beaten

Emphasis: Learning what to do when beaten by a defender
Role of the Defender in Recovery Practice Plan

(a) Immediate Chase and pressure when appropriate
(b) Recovery straight back-not chasing the ball when not feasible
(c) Cover and Balance defenders shifting and delaying while remaining team recovers behind the ball
(d) Emphasis on not getting beaten

BEFORE MOVING ON TO MORE ADVANCED TRAINING THESE SESSIONS MUST BE MASTERED AND UNDERSTOOD COMPLETELY

5) Session 5: Training a flat four: Pressure/ Cover/ Balance cones and block defending

Emphasis: putting it together in a team environment
Training a Flat Four Practice Plan

(a) The use of curved run and visual cues with the defensive blocks
(b) Working as two blocks to control the game
(c) Understanding the importance of working as units as opposed to individuals

6) Session 6: Training a flat four-work of the back and middle four: training in blocks

Emphasis: Learning how to work as two units
Training the Fullback and Midfield Block in a Flat Four

(a) The role of the two central defenders
(b) The role of the outside backs when the ball is in the middle –squeeze
(c) The role of the outside backs when the ball is outside, especially with outside backs-flexing
(d) The role of the central midfielders and working together with each other.
(e) The role of the outside midfielders is pressuring when on ball and tucking in when away from it.
(f) Learning who is dangerous and who is not dangerous

7) Session 7: Training a flat four-the role of the forwards in defense

Emphasis: how the forwards dictate what the opponent does
Training Two forwards in the Attacking Third Practice Plan
Training Three forwards in the Attacking Third Practice Plan

(a) Working as pressure/cover with curved runs to take away half of the field
(b) Combing with the outside midfielders to create high pressure up top leading to turnovers
(c) Learning to not over commit and taking self out of the play of the game

8) Session 8: Training a flat four:Training a team how to press and run the off sides trap.

Emphasis: stepping and taking away space
Learning How to Press Practice Plan

(a) The role of the central backs in leading the team in stepping
(b) Learning how to step on negative balls to take away space
(c) Understanding how to deal with poor officiating
(d) The role of the keeper in defending when pressing

9) Session 9: Training a flat four- Learning to Press: Holding the Line

Emphasis: Getting the keeper involved in the defense when the defensive block is pressing.
Training the team to Press Practice Plan

(a) Learing how to Press to take away space
(b) Learning to hold a line in the defensive thid.
(c) The role of the keeper on defense: communication and owning the box.

10) Session 10: Training a flat four-putting it all together

Emphasis: Understanding the intricacies of playing the flat four and making adjustments to different systems of play.
Playing Versus Various Systems Practice Plans

(a) Playing the game against various systems

Age appropriateness: Training defense technique and tactics in youth players.

When to introduce a flat back system of play

Implementing various aspects of this training regimen at different age levels leads to greater success at higher age levels. For instance most eleven year old boys and girls are not capable of playing a flat four (or three) because they cannot comprehend spatial relationships well enough to successful play this system. Training time at this age should definitely be focused on technical skill versus tactical training so the flat four takes a secondary role to technical development. However, introducing the concepts of the first, second and third defender at this age level is completely appropriate and highly encouraged. Not only will this allow teams at younger age levels to learn the basics of defense but it will also lead to greater success on the field as less goals will be allowed. As the players get older and they understand the basic concepts of zonal defense, the larger concept of zonal play can be introduced and trained in depth. At the ages of thirteen and fourteen tactics begins to take prescedence over technical training and the flat four can be successful introduced. That is not to say these training sessions are not applicable to all ages. Learning and practicing the basics of defense at younger ages will lead to success at the older ages.

See curriculum for more ideas on when and how to train these concepts