Pressure, cover and balance 3v2 with corner goals
Three defenders protect a 3 m goal against two attackers in 30x20 m. Work on the defensive triangle: pressure on the ball, angled cover and a third man giving depth; the defenders counter into two corner goals.
El 1 pasa al 2. El defensor 3 presiona, el 2 cubre en ángulo y el 1 da equilibrio cerrando el segundo palo.
Objective
Teach the three principles of collective defending (pressure, cover and balance) with a defensive triangle that points at the ball when it is central and becomes an angled line when the ball is wide.
Organisation
30x20 m rectangle. A 3 m goal (mini goal) in the middle of one short side and two mini goals in the corners of the opposite side. Three defenders against two attackers; the rest wait outside with balls. Attackers score in the main goal; if the defenders win the ball they can score in either corner goal.
Development
- 1Passive phase: attackers circulate the ball at low tempo and the defenders position themselves according to the ball: the nearest presses, the second covers at an angle and goal-side, the third gives depth and protects the back post.
- 2Live phase: defend at match speed, but attackers may only shoot after four passes; if they score they keep the ball and play restarts.
- 3Every attacking pass forces the triangle to readjust: with the ball central, a triangle pointing at the ball; with the ball wide, an angled line dropping back towards goal.
- 4If the defenders win the ball they break quickly and score in one of the two corner goals; the attackers must react to stop them.
- 5Rotate roles every 3-4 minutes so everyone defends.
Coaching points4
- Nearest defender: pressure the ball; if far away, stop the forward progress first.
- Cover at an angle and goal-side, close enough to pressure if the first defender is beaten.
- Third defender: depth, cover the back post and watch the attacker without the ball.
- All three move with every pass: nobody waits for the ball to arrive.
Common mistakes3
- All three defenders in a flat line with no depth.
- Third defender drifts towards the ball and leaves the back post free.
- Pressing without slowing down, letting the attacker beat the defender with one touch.
Variations3
- Goals in the main goal only count after a pass into space.
- Move to 3v3 in 30x30 m with three mini goals on each end line, forcing repositioning with every switch of play.
- Double points for defenders scoring in a corner goal.
Progressions2
- Add a third attacker and apply the offside rule: defenders decide between playing offside or dropping to cover runs in behind.
- Remove the four-pass restriction.
Regressions2
- Keep the passive phase longer with coach freezes to set the triangle.
- Attackers limited to two touches.
Tips
- Use a goal with a net or tape so the back post is visible.
- Call out 'one, two, three' so the defenders identify their role at every moment.