defensive recovery / tracking back Seniors soccer drills
defensive recovery / tracking back Seniors drills that you can apply to help your players progress on the defensive recovery / tracking back aspect. Sign up to receive our latest drills.
Goalkeeper build-up into 1v2 duels with defensive recovery
This highly dynamic drill starts with a goalkeeper's distribution followed by a series of 1v2 duels with a defender in pursuit, potentially evolving into a 3v3.
Mark out a zone of about 30x40m then place 2 large goals on each width. Next, set up 4 mini-goals in the center of the field as well as 2 cones at the same level (see animation). Finally, place a cone near each large goal. Form 2 teams of 6 players and ask them to position themselves at each cone.
The exercise will proceed as follows:
Everything starts with a goalkeeper's distribution to the first player (A) who will control it and then lay it off to the goalkeeper.
The latter will then switch sides by finding the second player (B) on the opposite side.
B performs a directional control then dribbles within the first half of the field.
Player A then positions as a defender, resulting in a 1v1 on the large goal against the opposing attacker.
The third player (C) starts as soon as B has made their control and will act as a chasing defender. This results in a 1v2.
Variation: as soon as the 2v1 duels are over, you can continue with a 3v3 on the 2 large goals. Remember to limit the opposition in time (we recommend 1 minute to 1 minute 30) to maintain a high intensity.
The Senior category includes all players over the age of 20. It encompasses players with a wide range of personal and athletic differences. As a senior coach, you must take this into account when preparing your senior training sessions. The Senior category marks a turning point in each player's soccer career. At this level, soccer is played with the utmost seriousness, commitment, and ambition, whether at the District level, regional competitions, or even at professional levels.
For Senior players, soccer is often a passion that requires great discipline, optimal physical condition, and an advanced tactical understanding of the game. Each training session and match thus becomes crucial and far more important than in previous categories.
Here are the objectives and some tips on the best ways to train a senior team.
The objectives of the Senior category
For the Senior category, the objectives go well beyond the simple enjoyment of the game and the passion for soccer. Physical, tactical, and technical conditions are a major focus in the development of each player, as well as other crucial elements of the sport such as positioning, strategies for set pieces, formation, the type of play executed, management of individualities, locker room relationships, etc.
Coaching a Senior team involves much more responsibility as a coach and requires constant focus and structure to optimize the development of each player as well as sporting results and to reach high-level competitions.
Some tips for coaching a Senior team
Here are some essential tips for successfully coaching a Senior team:
Personalization of training: Take into account the strengths, weaknesses, and individual goals of the players to customize each training session. This can include specific physical conditioning programs, technical workshops, or targeted tactical sessions.
Balancing intensity and variety: Sessions should be both intense and varied to maintain player engagement and simulate upcoming or past match conditions, especially after defeats!
Focus on tactics: Senior players must understand and execute complex game plans set by the coach. Use video analysis, classroom sessions, and on-field exercises to teach and refine the game strategies you desire.
Management of physical condition and recovery: Prevent injuries and ensure the athletic longevity of players by emphasizing good physical preparation, learning recovery practices after matches and training, muscle care, nutrition…
Strengthening team cohesion and mental health: Organize team-building activities and provide psychological support to each player to strengthen team spirit and help players manage pressure, especially if you reach high-level competitions.
What training exercises for a Senior team?
To succeed in your senior training session, we advise you to focus on 2 aspects: the phases of play and the pace of your sessions. There are many senior exercises available that highlight these 2 aspects, so it will be up to you to carefully select your specific senior exercises to add more dynamism to your training session.
Here is a series of exercises for a Senior team, inspired by modern soccer training practices:
Advanced technical workshops: Organize sessions focused on perfecting individual technical skills, such as ball control under pressure, long-distance passing accuracy, shooting on goal, or other set pieces...
Interactive tactical training: Set up games and simulations that encourage players to apply specific strategies and tactics, promoting quick thinking and decision-making under pressure.
Targeted physical sessions: Include specific training to improve endurance, speed, agility, and strength of each player, according to the time of year and upcoming sporting events.
Training matches and analysis: Regularly organize training matches to evaluate your Senior team's performance in real game conditions. Use post-match video analysis to discuss improvements and adjust strategies.
Dynamic warm-ups: One-touch play combinations with support, inspired by a Liverpool training session. The objective? Improve communication and quick play.
Possession and transition play: Possession exercise with attacking and defensive transitions, known and used notably by Pep Guardiola. This exercise emphasizes developing the ability to quickly switch phases of play (attack to defense…)
Physical conditioning: Aerobic endurance circuit, adapted for physical preparation at the start of the season.
