d efensive recovery / tracking back soccer drills

Joueurs

4-24

Thème

Build-up in 3v3 and finding the support point in the final third

U14 U15 U16 U17

3v3 midfield build-up exercise with the requirement to find a target forward in the final third before being able to finish....

Durée

Joueurs

8-14

Thème

Possession game with quick transitions upon losing the ball

U16 U17 U18 U19 U20 Seniors

Working on ball retention under pressure with immediate reaction to losing possession to strengthen defensive transition and coord...

Durée

Joueurs

12-24

Thème

Possession game in 2 zones with role change

U14 U15 U16 U17 U18 U19 U20 Seniors

Possession and switch of play drill in a three-zone format with role rotation between attackers and defenders....

Durée

Joueurs

14-18

Thème

Defensive transitions after loss in rondo games

U12 U13 U14 U15 U16 U17 U18 U19 U20 Seniors

Immediate reaction work upon losing possession through successive rondo sequences. Ideal as a warm-up for a session focused on cou...

Durée

12 min

Joueurs

14-20

Thème

Warm-up

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What is defensive recovery in soccer?

Defensive recovery in soccer involves players of a team quickly retreating towards their own goal as soon as possession is lost. Unlike counter-pressing, here, the goal is to favor the team's numerical advantage defensively to prevent the opponent from finding spaces and creating dangerous situations.

Attacking in soccer is often spectacular, but the cornerstone of this sport remains defense. Without conceding goals, you consequently have a better chance of winning. Defensive recovery is one of the crucial skills of all respectable soccer teams. Let's break down defensive recovery, its usefulness, and especially how to work on it in training.

Defensive recovery is often used in the context of losing the ball in advanced areas of the field or during rapid transitions by the opponent. As always, communication and coordination are essential to ensure appropriate defensive cover.

How to work on defensive recovery in soccer?

Training for defensive recovery starts with a solid understanding of each player's roles and responsibilities on the field when the team switches to defensive mode. Exercises focused on the quick transition between attack and defense are effective in teaching players the reactions to have when losing the ball.

Moreover, working on physical condition and endurance is crucial for making quick short runs over long distances while staying clear-headed. Other exercises like playing in intervals, speed, or interval training can be useful for your group.

General tips on defensive recovery

As mentioned earlier, communication is the foundation of effective defensive recovery. Your players must constantly talk to avoid leaving empty spaces or losing coordination and field coverage.

Finally, it is very important that your team develops a solid tactical understanding of defensive recovery so that it is not deployed in vain. Each player must know their role and that of their teammates to be able, if necessary, to compensate for their absence.

To be effective, defensive recovery must:

Be performed as a unit: players must be organized and retreat coherently.
Be performed attentively: players must be focused and engaged in the game to immediately regain their position.
Be performed considering the environment: where is my direct opponent? where are my teammates? These are questions that cognitive-focused exercises can answer.

What exercises to work on defensive recovery?

First, positioning and movement exercises are very useful for working on defensive recovery. Small-sided games with specific rules, such as preventing the opponent from crossing an imaginary midline, can help your players focus on maintaining a compact shape in space coverage.

Then, simulating match situations, like high ball losses, are appreciated scenarios for working on your defensive tactics. Defensive reflexes and instincts will be developed along with endurance and quick runs.

In conclusion, defensive recovery is much more than a simple reaction to losing the ball. It represents a precise and rigorous tactic that requires work to avoid jeopardizing the team and the match score. Discipline and coordination must be perfect to hope to disrupt the opponent and prevent them from scoring.

Build-up play from the goalkeeper and alternating between short passing game and direct play

U17 U18 U19 U20 Seniors

Exercise focused on goalkeeper work and how players move when their goalkeeper has the ball in hand. The goalkeeper's decision-mak...

Durée

Joueurs

11-15

Thème

Defensive transition of Pep Guardiola in an 8vs7 with 4 supports

U17 U18 U19 U20 Seniors

Used by Pep Guardiola during a training session at Manchester City, this drill will help you work on the attacking-defensive trans...

Durée

Joueurs

18-21

Thème

Attacking-defensive transition of Mikel Arteta in a 4v2

U17 U18 U19 U20 Seniors

Used by Mikel Arteta during a training session at Arsenal, this drill will allow your players to work on the attacking-defensive t...

Durée

Joueurs

10-18

Thème

Pep Guardiola's Transition Work in a 5v5 Across 3 Zones

U18 U19 U20 Seniors

Used by Pep Guardiola during his time at Bayern Munich, this exercise is ideal for working on quick execution and exploiting space...

Durée

Joueurs

12-18

Thème

Attacking transition of J. Klopp with quick attacks in 6v6

U16 U17 U18 U19 U20 Seniors

Used by J. Klopp at Borussia Dortmund, this drill is ideal for working on the defensive-to-attacking transition, emphasizing the s...

Durée

Joueurs

15-20

Thème

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3v3 high-intensity with shooting on 6 mini goals

U10 U11 U12 U13

Used by the youth teams at Real Madrid, this highly dynamic drill will help your players work on attacking and defensive transitio...

Durée

Joueurs

12-24

Thème

Attacking transition of José Mourinho with quick attacks in 5v3

U16 U17 U18 U19 U20 Seniors

Used by José Mourinho, this exercise will allow you to set up game situations where the speed of the defensive-attacking transitio...

Durée

Joueurs

14-18

Thème

Possession Game by Claudio Ranieri on 4 Mini-Pitches

U17 U18 U19 U20 Seniors

Used by Claudio Ranieri during a training session at Leicester, this dynamic drill is perfect for getting your players to work on ...

Durée

Joueurs

14-18

Thème

Continuous fast attacks with a 5v3 in 2 zones

U14 U15 U16 U17

This drill will help improve your players' speed in exploiting a numerical advantage during a counterattack. Highly appreciated by...

Durée

Joueurs

10-14

Thème

Offensive combinations in 3v2 with defensive recovery

U12 U13 U14 U15 U16

Very dynamic exercise to implement in training, which will allow your players to work on different situations in 3v2 then 3v3 with...

Durée

Joueurs

9-18

Thème

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Defensive recovery activity in 2v2

U7 U8 U9 U10 U11

To be used in soccer school, and particularly with younger players, this drill will help work on 2v2 duels with a temporary numeri...

Durée

Joueurs

8-20

Thème

Pep Guardiola's Quick Attacking-Defensive Transition with 1v1 Duels

U17 U18 U19 U20 Seniors

This two-step drill is inspired by an exercise implemented by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. It's ideal for working on attackin...

Durée

12 min

Joueurs

8-16

Thème

Decision Making and Shooting in 2v1 (+1) with Defensive Recovery

U14 U15 U16 U17

Simple exercise to set up, but it allows you to work on many aspects, from decision-making to shooting, including the trajectory o...

Durée

Joueurs

10-20

Thème

2v1 with shooting and defender tracking back

U14 U15 U16 U17

Thanks to this 2v1 exercise with various progressions, you will be able to train your defenders with their backs to the goal, prog...

Durée

Joueurs

8-20

Thème

Decision Making and Reaction Time with Shooting in 2v1

U17 U18 U19 U20 Seniors

On the agenda for this exercise: shooting, decision-making, and reaction time. An exercise that players generally enjoy a lot....

Durée

Joueurs

6-18

Thème

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Offensive Combinations and Numerical Advantage in 2v1

U14 U15 U16 U17

In this comprehensive drill, you will enable your players to work on several phases of play during a numerical advantage in 2v1 an...

Durée

Joueurs

8-18

Thème

Defensive work in pairs in a small area

U14 U15 U16 U17

This drill in the form of a 2v2 with support is ideal for working on two-player defense and positioning in tight spaces....

Durée

Joueurs

6-18

Thème

Goalkeeper distribution and 1v2 duels with defender chasing

U17 U18 U19 U20 Seniors

This highly dynamic drill starts with a goalkeeper's distribution followed by a series of 1v2 duels with a defender in pursuit, po...

Durée

Joueurs

8-20

Thème

2v1 Rondo in two zones

U9 U10 U11 U12 U13

2v1 (or 4v2) possession exercise on two adjacent zones with possible variation on mini-goals. Ideal small-sided game for soccer sc...

Durée

12 min

Joueurs

6-24

Thème

1v1 Duels then Defensive Transition in 2v1

U17 U18 U19 U20 Seniors

1v1 duels from different perspectives: first a 1v1, then a defensive transition to quickly move into a 2v1 on the large goal....

Durée

Joueurs

12-24

Thème

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Tracking back in 1v1 situations with variations by Jurgen Klopp

U17 U18 U19 Seniors

Used in Dortmund, this drill, which allows for numerous variations, will require your players to work on defensive recovery in an ...

Durée

Joueurs

6-20

Thème

Defensive cover and tracking back in a three-man defense

U16 U17 U18 U19 U20 Seniors

Excellent technical workshop for defenders to work on speed of movement, agility, and coordination. Conducted by Bayern Munich dur...

Durée

14 min

Joueurs

9-18

Thème

4v4 game with line touch after each goal

U17 U18 U19 U20 Seniors

Two teams play on a small field and try to score with one condition: every time a team loses possession, they must sprint, touch t...

Durée

Joueurs

12-22

Thème

Physical

Zonal Defense in 6v6: Marking, Cover, and Balance

U12 U13 U14 U15 U16 U17

By having the defense work on zonal marking starting from a 6v6, your players improve on various tactical concepts: getting open, ...

Durée

Joueurs

12-14

Thème

Defensive Block: Positioning in the Game and Tactical Principles

U16 U17 U18 U19 U20 Seniors

In a 4v4 situation within a confined space and with a defense starting with a 3-second delay, your defenders work on the tactical ...

Durée

Joueurs

13-18

Thème

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Zonal marking: defensive positioning and team block

U16 U17 U18 U19 U20 Seniors

Excellent exercise to train your players on defensive positioning and the team's zonal defense....

Durée

8 min

Joueurs

8-16

Thème

Technical work in 2v2, cross and shooting

U17 U18 U19 U20 Seniors

Through a 2v2 drill ending with a shot, your players work on ball retention and recovery as well as shooting in front of the goal....

Durée

25 min

Joueurs

15-17

Thème

Collective replacement and management of offensive and defensive space

U10 U11 U12 U13 U14

Through this exercise, your players work on collective repositioning, closing down space, and defensive build-up play, as well as ...

Durée

Joueurs

10-12

Thème

1v1 Duel with Chasing Defender

U10 U11 U12 U13 U14

By giving a slight disadvantage to the defenders, this 1v1 drill helps work on both ball control at full speed for the attacker an...

Durée

Joueurs

12-14

Thème

1v1 Duels and Defensive Positioning

U9 U10 U11 U12 U13

Exercise focused on defensive technique: how to effectively defend when positioned against an attacker in a 1v1? Numerous repetiti...

Durée

Joueurs

8-16

Thème

Progressez grâce à nos exercices

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Midfield Line: Advancing and Defending as a Team

U15 U16 U17 U18 U19 U20 Seniors

Ideal for learning to counterattack quickly and advance as a team. The defensive aspect is also present in this exercise, perfect ...

Durée

Joueurs

10-16

Thème