Training Library › Defending
2v2 Attack + Third-Player Support — Delaying the Attack
Delaying the opponent's attack (defending when outnumbered)
Players: 2+2 (12 players in total)Area: about 15×25 mAge: U-9 and upTime: 15 minPhase: Defending
Setup & rules
- The two players of the attacking team get past the defender and pass to a player waiting ahead
- After that, they become the defenders
- The player who made the pass goes around the central cone and then joins the defence
- If the defender wins the ball, they pass to the group behind
RULE: the attackers attack without taking time
Note: adjust the area size according to how often the situation you want actually happens.
Key factors
ATTACK
- When the ball carrier is not under pressure, the supporting player takes a position beyond the opponent's line.
- When the ball carrier is under pressure, the supporting player drops to secure a passing lane, then gets past the defender with an oriented control (control orientado).
- If the defender cuts the dribbling lane, the ball carrier prioritizes the pass.
- If the defender cuts the passing lane, get past the defender with a dribble (regate).
- When passing, the ball carrier draws the defender in.
DEFENSE
- When the situation is 1v2, don't get too close to the ball carrier; keep your distance and take a position where you can't be beaten by a pass
- When it is 1v2, don't get too close to the ball carrier; take a position from which you can still close down even if the pass is played
- If your teammate is late getting back and the attackers have progressed and are getting close to goal, close down while cutting the passing lane
- Once your teammate is back, defend as a normal 2v2
Progressions
- With similar rules, you can set up 3v2 → 3v3 and so on to make it more complex and closer to the game (adapt freely)
Kazu's notes FROM THE COACH
- For players around 8–9 years old (Japanese grade 3) and up; difficulty low
- If you want to focus only on improving the defending side, there is no need to give the attacking key factors. If the defenders can play far too easily, improve the attack first
- If the area is too big, the delay lasts longer and the teammate can get back easily; if it is too narrow, play ends before they get back — so adjust it
- In terms of age, this is a tactic players can carry out from around U-10 (Japanese grade 4), but it also works well enough with older primary-school players as a basic introduction
- Don't explain all the key factors at once; narrow them down to the important points when you coach
Use this drill in your own session
Download it and open it in TRAINING DESIGNER — a free drill designer and session planner in your browser. Edit the diagram, change the numbers, add it to a session, and export as PDF, GIF or video.
In the app: menu → “Import external data” → choose the downloaded file. No sign-up needed. The original Japanese article: junior-soccer.college.One idea a week from Japanese youth football
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I'm Kazu — a youth football coach in Japan since 1995. These are sessions I actually use, shared from the Japanese coaching site I have run for years (Junior Soccer College). I also write a free weekly newsletter on how children learn the game.