How to defend between the Lines with a Competitive Soccer Drill

Defending is a fundamental aspect of football, crucial for a team’s success. It involves strategies and tactics aimed at preventing the opposing team from scoring goals. . Teams use different tactics to do this. One strategy is to prevent the opponents from playing between the lines and break vertically the defensive block. Football Coaching is all about helping the players find the best solutions in any situation and defending against teams capable in ball possession is one of these. In this article I will present the most important key points to take into consideration when defending between the lines and also I will show a soccer drill on how to train it.

The defending team in situations where the opponents wish to progress forward in a vertical way, needs to defend between the lines. That means positioning players smartly to block passes and make it hard for the other team to move forward or to get out of the structure and aggressively press and attacker who receives a pass between the lines. This tactic needs teamwork, quick thinking, anticipation and fast players in the first 5-6 meters. Implementing a methodology to train defending between the lines, even with a simple soccer drill, it’s mandatory to start from the football academies and in youth soccer or even grassroots.

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Understanding Defensive Lines

In football, teams have the flexibility to adopt various defensive formations based on their tactical preferences and the strengths of their players. Some common defensive formations include the classic 4-4-2, the versatile 3-5-2, or the dynamic 4-3-3. Each of these formations comes with its own set of tactical weaknesses and strengths, dictating how players position themselves on the field and how they collaborate defensively to nullify the opposition’s attacks. Using a positional, tactical focus soccer drill is essential to train basic fundamental principles.

What is Defending Between the Lines?

DIEGO SIMEONE DEFENDING AND ATTACKING TACTICS SET – TACTICAL ANALYSIS AND SESSIONS FROM ATLÉTICO MADRID’S 4-4-2

diego simeone

Tactical Analysis and Sessions from Atlético Madrid’s 4-4-2

  • How the Centre Backs Defend the Forwards’ Movements
  • Rear Block’s Positioning and Movements to Control Wide Areas
  • Pressing High Up the Pitch (from the Goalkeeper)
  • Positioning of the Forwards to Prepare for Counter Attacks
  • Counter-Pressing After Losing Possession During Combination Play
  • Dragging the Centre Back Out of Position to Create and Exploit Space
  • Counter Attack After Winning the Ball in the Centre (Direct Threat)

Key Tactics for Defending Between the Lines

  • Pressing and Cutting Passing Lanes: Implementing effective pressing tactics not only applies immediate pressure on the opponent but also disrupts their decision-making process, often leading to rushed or inaccurate passes. By actively pressing the opposition players, defenders can force them into making hurried decisions, increasing the likelihood of turnovers and regaining possession. Simultaneously, cutting passing lanes involves strategically positioning defenders to block or intercept potential passing routes. This limits the options available to the opposition, forcing them to either play risky passes or resort to safer, less progressive options, ultimately increasing the chances of defensive success.
  • Maintaining Compactness and Shape: One of the fundamental principles of a well-organized defense is maintaining compactness and shape. This means ensuring that the defensive unit remains tightly knit, with minimal space between players, thereby denying the opposition the opportunity to exploit gaps in the defensive line. By maintaining compactness, defenders can effectively close down space, restrict passing lanes, and limit the opponent’s ability to create goal-scoring opportunities. Furthermore, maintaining a cohesive defensive shape enables defenders to anticipate each other’s movements, provide cover, and support one another in challenging situations, thereby enhancing the overall defensive solidity of the team.
  • Individual Marking and Awareness: Effective defending also relies on the ability of individual defenders to mark their opponents tightly and maintain awareness of their surroundings. Individual marking involves closely tracking the movements of opposing players, denying them space, and preventing them from receiving or making dangerous passes. Additionally, defenders must possess situational awareness, constantly scanning the field to anticipate potential threats, such as runs behind the defensive line or attempted through balls. By remaining alert and proactive, defenders can intercept passes, make timely tackles, and neutralize opposition attacks before they pose a significant threat to the team’s defensive structure.

Training Methods for Enhancing Defending Between the Lines

Challenges and Common Mistakes in Implementing this Defensive Strategy

Below is a positional soccer drill directly from Coach’s Corner. If you found it helpful, don’t hesitate to explore further.

There are many more soccer drills available to assist you in training your team, starting from the basics and progressing to more specific tactical topics.

Positional Game – 6 v 4 + 4 neutrals soccer drill

soccer drill to defend between lines
soccer drill to defend between lines

Conclusion

Defending between the lines in football is a sophisticated strategy that requires a combination of tactical understanding, individual skill, and teamwork. By effectively positioning defenders to intercept passes and disrupt opposition play, teams can gain a competitive advantage and control the flow of the game. Using the soccer drill presented in this article, can help the football coach to train the fundamentals of defending between the lines.

P.S: If you liked this great soccer drill, check out the Coach’s Corner, the coach personal drill’s book! If you want to find a defending drill, shooting drill, conditioning drills, passing drills, a full training session, a soccer warm up, exercises to train soccer formations, a detailed attacking coaching session, a practice to train left foot or right foot, a soccer game to train dribbling skills, this is the best choice.