In the video clip below Tony Massie, a Celtic Soccer Academy coach, leads his Pass, Move, & Defend Drill as part of his Defending as an Individual and in Pairs demonstration at a recent Glazier Soccer Clinic.
Coach Massie is an experienced coach in youth and academy soccer with his current role as the International Soccer Academy Manager for Celtic Football Club.
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This drill is set up by splitting players into three different teams and colors. There is a large grid or space with four small goals set up on the outside and four mannequins in the middle. The mannequins are to simulate offensive players, but corner flags or any stationary object could be substituted. Coach Massie instructs players to start passing and moving with their teams inside the grid as a warm up activity. The next activity involves all the players from one team going to defend the mannequins, steal the balls next to them, and go score once their team color is called out. Once the goals are scored, the players bring the balls back out next to the mannequins, and continue passing and moving as a group. The next color is called out and those players repeat the same things.
The video has sound, so please make sure that your sound is turned on.
This drill is set up by splitting players into three different teams and colors. There is a large grid or space with four small goals set up on the outside and four mannequins in the middle. The mannequins are to simulate offensive players, but corner flags or any stationary object could be substituted. Coach Massie instructs players to start passing and moving with their teams inside the grid as a warm up activity. The next activity involves all the players from one team going to defend the mannequins, steal the balls next to them, and go score once their team color is called out. Once the goals are scored, the players bring the balls back out next to the mannequins, and continue passing and moving as a group. The next color is called out and those players repeat the same things.
There are several important coaching points to make during this drill. First, the passing and moving is a natural part to any soccer game. Players need to constantly train while moving and transitioning from offense to defense. Second, the players are instructed to play defense on the mannequins before stealing the ball. This is important because players need to be patient in defending and make sure they don’t dive in trying to win the ball. Finally, the players are instructed to steal the soccer ball and score a goal on the closest small goal. Players need to understand the importance of transitioning quickly to offense once they have the ball. If you can attack and score during a game, this is your first priority.