Purpose

Defensive player works on blocking passes and shots.

Drill Setup

  • Divide team into groups of 4, mark off a 12-yard square for each group.
  • Place a cone with a ball on top in the center of the square.
Guard the Ball Soccer Defense Drill
Players secure a ball and dribble it back home.

How it Works

  1. One player is the defender. The other three are attackers.
  2. Defender tries to guard the ball while the attackers try to knock if off the cone with shots and passes.
  3. Run the drill for 20 seconds. Then switch players.

Coaching Tips

  • You can make the area even smaller for older or more skilled players.
  • If players stand next to the ball on the cone you could put a three-yard exclusion area around it to make them stand farther away.