Drills / Team practice

Defend the gate

The defender learns to close down fast, slow down, and stop the attacker getting through a gate.

Players
Pairs, any number
Space
15 × 12 m per pair
Kit
1 ball per pair, 6 cones
Time
12 minutes
Age
Under-8s and older
SLOW DOWNAD
  • Us
  • Them
  • Pass
  • Run
  • Dribble

Set up

  • A 15 m channel with a 4 m gate at one end. The defender stands in the gate.

How it works

  1. The defender passes to the attacker at the far end, then closes them down.
  2. The attacker tries to dribble through the gate.
  3. The defender scores a point for winning the ball or making the attacker go out of the side.

What to work on

  • Close down fast while the ball travels, then slow down as you get near.
  • Stop about an arm's length away, side-on, knees bent, on your toes.
  • Show the attacker one way, towards the side line, away from the gate.
  • Don't dive in. Wait for the heavy touch.

Easier

A wider channel for the attacker. The defender works on getting the distance right.

Harder

A second gate, so the defender has to choose which way to show.

Skills this works on: jockeying. Each one has a close-up drawing of the feet.

Especially good for: centre-back.

Planning a whole session? The session planner builds one around this kind of practice.

Try next

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