Top defenders are crucial to any successful team.
But are we doing enough to develop the next generation of elite defenders? Do we value the skills that defenders possess?
Tackling, shielding, intercepting, pressing, blocking, heading, clearing, tracking - these are all skills that can be developed through coaching. The question is: how often do we expose our players to them?
The Modern Trap
In modern football, we often assess central defenders primarily on their ability to pass or bring the ball out of defence. These qualities are important for possession-based styles.
But here’s my opinion: these qualities should be an added bonus to being a top defender, not an excuse for mediocre defending.
“He can play” shouldn’t compensate for defensive deficiencies. The balance must always lean towards being a top defender first. Everything else is supplementary.
Why Coaches Neglect Defending
Let’s be honest: many coaches find defending boring to coach.
This might be the main reason we don’t invest adequate time in developing defensive techniques. We’d rather run attacking exercises, play possession games, work on finishing.
But being creative in how you coach defending can change your players’ mentality towards it. The subject doesn’t have to be dull.
Start With Assessment
When beginning with any new team or group of players, I assess three things:
- How many players are good defenders?
- How many players actually enjoy defending?
- How competitive is the group? (What do training games look like?)
These questions matter because elite football requires all players to participate in attacking and defending. But defending, like attacking, is different for each position on the field.
A winger’s defensive responsibilities differ from a centre-back’s. The skills required are position-specific - just like attacking skills are.
The 10-20% Improvement
From your assessment, you can begin improving each player’s defensive qualities.
10-20% improvement might seem like a high target, but in practice, it’s surprisingly achievable when players have never been properly coached in these areas.
Areas that create immediate impact:
- Specific defending for their role in the team
- Awareness of how to block space
- Understanding when and how to press
- Making each 1v1 personal
- Using arms and body to protect personal space
- Commitment to never leaving a teammate isolated (the rule of 2v1)
These can all be developed through the training environment you create.
Position-Specific Defending
One of my favourite coaching principles comes from Arsène Wenger: “Defend from the front and attack from the back.”
Creating links to each player’s specific role breaks down defending into manageable pieces.
Examples:
- Number 9s: How to force play to one side, how to drop back and compact the team under pressure
- Wide players: How to block passing lines to opponents’ wingers, how to press full-backs effectively
- Number 10s: How to work with the striker to press central defenders, how to block deep-lying midfielders
- Central midfielders: When and how to press, how to block space then pressure as the ball travels
- Full-backs: How to block crosses, positioning when the ball is on the opposite side
- Central defenders: How to intercept, stopping attackers turning, covering defensive partners
- Goalkeepers: Adjusting position with ball movement, commanding the penalty area
Give each player 1-2 things to remember as a starting point. Build from there.
The Teamwork Foundation
Link everything back to helping your “friends.”
I’ve written before about developing players who can outplay opponents 1v1 but are always thinking in 2v1. This is crucial for defensive development.
Emphasise:
- As individuals (winger helping their full-back)
- In units (midfielders blocking passes into attacking players)
- As a team (learning to compact space or force play to certain areas)
Never allow a teammate to be isolated 1v1 without someone arriving to help. This principle transforms defensive mentality.
Making 1v1s Personal
Every training group contains different physical shapes, sizes, and natural skill sets. Use this variety by exposing players to different types of opponents.
Making 1v1 duels personal - both in games and training - lights a fuse to players’ competitive edge.
This mentality of not wanting to lose to your opponent in any area of the game builds over time. You can fire up competition in small game scenarios by challenging two players to compete for superiority.
This challenge gets players looking into each other’s eyes. Immediately the competition rises technically, tactically, physically - but especially mentally.
Creating the Environment
Questions for your training:
- How much competition do you use?
- Do you make competition specific?
- Do you keep score?
- Do you pitch players against each other?
“The way a player moves and reacts when the team is defending represents how much they want to win.” Use this idea to inspire greater focus.
Simple rules create defensive environments without explicitly “coaching defending.” For example, talk about “light switch” transitions when losing the ball - the nearest players counter-pressing immediately when possession is lost.
These rules create environments based on winning and competition, which naturally improves defensive mentality.
Praise the Effort
Defending doesn’t come naturally to all players - especially those who haven’t been coached or exposed to defensive techniques.
When you see players trying harder to defend, recognise the effort. Praise work ethic and improved mentality. This rewards the behaviour and encourages continuation.
Making work ethic a daily habit benefits everyone - and it’s contagious through the group.
Hide It If Necessary
Make defending fun by hiding it within competition, teamwork, or 1v1 focus.
What matters is awareness of how much time you actually spend on each area of the game.
Look back at recent sessions. Write down the themes and messages. Did you coach enough defending?
The Summary Checklist
- Assess your group’s current defensive abilities
- Improve each player’s defending by 10-20%
- Make it position-specific
- Link to teamwork - think in 2v1
- Connect to controlling space
- Make 1v1s personal
- Develop the training environment for competition
- Praise and encourage effort
- Make it engaging
- Improve use of arms and body for personal space
Strong at the back, strong as a team.
Simple starting point: Understanding how to control space, combined with a mentality of not being outplayed 1v1, will have enormous impact on any player’s defensive qualities.
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