The supporting defender

by Tony Carr in Defending, Practice plans

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The supporting defender is vital for cutting off attacking options. This session introduces the
idea with a defensive overload.
What this session is about
Improving the understanding of covering and supporting your team mate in defending
situations.
What to think about
  We build up the practice slowly to include communication, then into active participation of
supporting your team mate before developing into a game situation.
  In the first part of the session you can divide the area into two to enable more players to
participate at the same time.
  The supporting defender takes a position behind and inside the first defender.
Set-up
  30×25 yard area with an end zone.
Warm
Warm up Session Developments Game Situation
Down

10 minutes 15-20 minutes 10-15 minutes 15-20 minutes 10

minutes
What you get your players to do
To begin, the defender passes to the attacker and must stop the attacker from dribbling into
the end zone. The supporting defender must give verbal support such as: “get tight”, “stand
up”, “force wide” etc.
The covering defender initially just provides verbal support.

Development
Now the defenders work together in a 2v1 situation against the attacker. The first defender
must pressure the attacker whilst the team mate covers and supports.
After the ball has been played a second attacker enters the pitch and the defensive roles are
switched. The pressuring defender now covers and supports whilst the previous covering
defender has a turn at pressuring.
Now the supporting defender provides cover as well as verbal support.

Game situation
Play as above but with the addition of a goalkeeper and goal. Now the attackers can shoot
from distance so there is extra pressure on the defenders to get across quickly.
The goalkeeper can provide additional support, communicating with both defenders.
 The addition of a goal changes the challenge faced by both attacker and defenders.

What to call out

  “Get tight, force towards team mate”
  “Get into support position”
  “Give your team mate some information”
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About Tony Carr

Tony Carr is one of the most influential figures in English football. The former West Ham
Academy director has brought through – from the youth team to the first team – players like
Glen Johnson, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole and
Jermain Defoe.
View all posts by Tony Carr >
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