MIKE SMITH

TEACHING INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM

DEFENDING
MIKE SMITH
Director of Youth Academy, Portland Timbers

Mike Smith became the Youth Sporting Director for Portland Timbers in June 2013 after serving over two years as the club’s
Academy Director. He has significant experience in soccer coaching and team management at the regional, national and
collegiate level. Mikes holds the USSF ‘A’ License & FIFA Futuro Coaching Certificate and he is currently a candidate for the
French Football Development License through MLS & UEFA. His previous positions include, Technical Director for Oregon
Youth Soccer, assistant with U17 USA national team, Region 4 ODP Director and Head Coach at Santa Clara and University
of Oregon. Mike performs coaching education roles for US Soccer & US Youth Soccer and he regularly presents at national
workshops and conferences.

Webinar key points (by David Newbery) as well as your own. This allows you to cut out the most important passing
lane with your approach as well as know and understand where your
There are three main points I would like to highlight: covering defenders are and make good decisions about where to force the
1. Activation - Mike started the presentation with an activation activity - a ball.
series of 2v2 games that he picked up on his Advanced Coaching
course with the French Football Federation. A series of 4 small-sided Q3: You mentioned that the French Football Federation has many more
games. The purpose was simple – get the players excited about being principles of attack and defense than we refer to in USA – Can you
at practice, warm-up and get lots of defensive repetition. elaborate? Paul Cummins & Luis Rivas
2. Scoring system 1 – I also wanted to highlight how Mike used the scoring Yes, the principles are more intricate and are linked specifically with thirds
system to draw out the theme of his activity. In activity 2, the of the field. Please see tables on next page.
attacking players were incentivized with the hope of creating more
opportunities to defend. His objective was to create an attacking Q4: Could activity 4 be done with 3 players? If so, any special
scenario where defenders had to recover into a compact defensive considerations? Louis Obando
shape in front of goal. To do so Mike awarded the attackers 1 point for Yes, absolutely. The most important consideration is making the field
a connecting a pass into the middle zone and 3 points for a scoring
narrower. Remember that if we are ‘coaching for success’ with a defensive
goal after that.
topic we start with the field smaller and then later open it up to challenge
3. Scoring system 2 – In the third activity, Mike used a scoring system this
our players. We only do this once they have grasped the concept and
time to encourage defenders to use the ball meaningfully when they
achieved success. I have done this exercise with 2 defenders coming out
win the ball. In 1v1 soccer golf, if the defender wins the ball and keeps
and 3 attackers coming on. This I do 20 yards wide (width of the 6 yard
it for two seconds he achieves a score of -2 for an eagle! If he forces
box).
the attacking player to touch the ball out of bounds, then his team
would be awarded a -1 (a birdie). If he tackles the ball out of bounds
Q5: How can you effectively get across the importance of communication
himself then that is a par or a score of zero. However, if the attacking
to your players? Marc Campoverde
player can get the ball over the end line here, the defender has a score
I usually tell youth players that the louder team usually wins the game. This
of +1 against him. Just like in golf, the lowest score wins after a set
indicates that a team is organized and prepared to help each other. We
number of attempts each team.
need to encourage this at practice at the younger ages so it gets ingrained
Questions asked by participants and answered by Mike Smith earlier. Of course we also need to stress the importance of non-verbal
communication, receiving cues from watching the body language of the
Q1: During activity 3 you mentioned ‘diving/simulation’ - that happens to player with the ball and the movement of his teammates.
be a big problem with some of my U11s what’s a good way to coach out
diving with younger ages? Nathan Janulis Q6: how would you keep younger players from clogging the small goals in
I think that as coaches we need to be firm in practice and not let players get activity 6v6 +2? Daniel Saiz
away with this. It is ethically wrong. Coaches can penalize the player and As a coach, if I were to see that happen, I would allow the team in
team that attempts simulation by awarding another point to the opposition, possession of the ball to continue to possess and every time they
or having team play short for next 2 minutes. connected into the middle square I would award them another point. I
would hope then that the defending team would be drawn out to try and
Q2: Can you expand upon your comments about ‘checking shoulder cues’ win the ball back. I am not sure what age group your ‘younger players’ are,
as a defender. Kevin Casey but with U12’s for instance, I would maybe adjust the size a little and make
As a defender approaching the ball to pressure, you want to take a look it a 4v4(+2) to make decision-making a little more simplistic. Start there
behind you and take a mental picture of where the opposition players are and gradually build up the numbers as you have some successes.

Produced in association with SOCCER COACH WEEKLY 1

 MIKE SMITH

PHASES TOPICS GAME PRINCIPLES (WHAT TO DO?)

1 1) Creation and use of space

2 2) Play in gaps and between lines

COLLECTIVE POSSESSION TO
ADVANCE 3 3) Creating numerical superiority

4 4) Getting unmarked (creating separation)

ATTACKING

5 5) Combination play (Play with 2, with 3 players), series of plays

6 1) Switching the point of attack

7 2) Penetrating play after the creation of space

UNBALANCE/DESTABILIZE
(ON THE LAST LINE) 8 3) Find a player on the run behind the back four

9 4) Combination play to create numerical superiority

10 5) Get unmarked to take players on (create notion of 1 v 1)

11 1) Anticipate, adjust yourself to shoot

FINISHING (LAST PASS + 1V1
FORWARD/GK) 12 2) Get Unmarked

13 3) Change speed to beat opponent

PHASES TOPICS GAME PRINCIPLES (WHAT TO DO?)

14 1) Close space of DGC (Direct Game Channel) and organize marking shape

IMPEDE OPPONENTS 15 2) Protecting space behind back four when there is no pressure on the
PROGRESS AND REORGANIZE ball (vertical balance)

16 3) Slow down opponent's progression and reorganize lines

DEFENDING

17 1) Create density and be active in DGC

18 2) Direct and organize the collective pressure based on the timing of the
PROTECT THE GOAL. pass
RECOVER THE BALL
19 3) Providing cover for a teammate during defensive play (defensive
numerical superiority)

20 4) Organize defensive repositioning (cover for teammate)

21 1) Positioning (relationship ball/goal)

RECOVERING THE BALL 22 2) Anticipate, adjust yourself to intervene (timing of tackle)

23 3) Intervene to start counterattack or maintain possession

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 MIKE SMITH

Q7: I coach high school girls but they are all relatively new to the game. I Q13: In the first warm-up/activation activity you have a triangular field
have found their lack of technical skill a real impediment to running drills with 3 goal - Can both teams score in any goal. Hector Tamayo
like the 2nd drill (6v6 Plus 2). Do you have any advice on how to teach the Yes, the team in possession can score in any goal initially. The next time
same principles with players who struggle to maintain possession without they have the ball though, they have to score in one of the other 2. So each
pressure? Andrew Wells team cannot score in the same goal twice in a row. This presents a mental
As in the answer above, you can simplify the decision making by reducing challenge for both teams to remember! The coach restarting the game by
the numbers on the field. To improve technically, there is no substitute playing balls can certainly help with this.
for repetition and time with the ball. Playing possession games and then
gradually building up the pressure helps. Maybe start with possession Q14: The session you presented revolves around whole-part-whole
games such as 3v3(+3), so in effect a 6v3 situation. Hopefully players methodology. Can you elaborate more about the efficacy of this approach
in teaching defending? Matt Malej
can spread out and begin to recognize how to play keep away with their
Each coach will have his or her own methodology. US Soccer teaches a
passing and movement. They will gradually improve.
progressive simple to complex methodology, where some other countries
(such as the French Federation) promote a whole-part-whole pedagogy. I
Q8: I coach U11, 8v8 - what is the ideal formation to defend soundly and
believe that there are definitely values to both and it often can depend on
then transition into an attack? Jeffrey Saudo
the age of the players and the topic of the day. Here is a link (if ok to put in
At the Barcelona Academy, their teams play 7v7 all the way through U12.
the magazine) to a short article comparing the two.
They will typically utilize a 3-2-1 formation in front of their goalkeeper. This
http://www.coachingsoccertactics.com/french-v-ussf-coaching-model/
provides them width at the back and the ability to play out and build up. It
must be crucially noted though, that there is a line across the field outside
Q15: What age level can we begin these particular training activities? Ron
the penalty area where the attacker cannot encroach until the ball is played Hendrie and Kerry Cooper
from the keeper. This allows and encourages the defenders to drop in and I think that each activity depends on the level of your group. Generally
receive the ball under minimal pressure. speaking though I would designate:
Activity 1 - U12 and above (can go younger if coach modifies the mental
Q9: I love the Golf Game ... can you repeat the scoring system please? challenge aspect)
Edwin Todd Activity 2 - U16 and above (although can modify numbers as above)
Of course: -2 = Defender wins ball in grid and keeps for 2 seconds (eagle!); Activity 3 - U12 and above (can go younger if coach modifies the scoring
-1 = Defender forces attacking player to touch ball out of grid (birdie!); 0 = aspect)
Defender wins ball and knocks out of grid (par); +1 = Attacker dribbles over Activity 4 - U13 and above (first year at 11v11, can modify numbers as above)
the defensive end line (bogey!); +2 = Attacker passes ball through small Activity 5 - U12 and above
1-yard goal on defensive end line (double bogey!); +3 = Attacker dribbles Activity 6 - U14 and above (younger players can understand concept if
through small 1-yard goal on defensive end line (triple bogey!) smaller numbers)

Q10: In a 1v1 activity (#3), would there be a benefit in starting both the Q16: What purpose do the neutral players serve in the of 6 v 6 + 2
attacker and the defender from the same side approaching a goal across activity? Jerald Kilmartin
from them? Enrique Martinez The neutral players make it more likely that the attacking team can have
I think that coaches should be creative in the activities they design. It some possession and therefore force the defenders to read cues and
shows that they are passionate about the game and in helping players actually have to pressure, cover and shift together. If even numbers, the
learn. I have definitely utilized this method previously to simulate another number of turnovers exponentially increases and the coach cannot get the
defensive principles over to the team.
real aspect of the game. Coaches should be aware though, that changing
certain parameters of their activity can have it develop into more of a
Q17: Would you encourage a time limit to recover the ball once the
physical battle as opposed to a mental challenge, so we have to get the
possession is lost? Carlos Barona
balance right for our teams.
I often provide a time or pass limit to win the ball back in practice. There
are occasions though where the team is regrouping and has to slow down
Q11: In activity 2 (6v6 +2), would you allow the player in the center to
the opposition and reorganize their lines. This can be effective even if we
dummy the ball or must they touch it? David Hourcade
don’t actually physically win the ball back outright.
The person in the middle could certainly dummy the ball. Usually, however,
I will only award a point if the person in the middle has time to receive the Q18: Would you recommend to keep the center backs tight and centered
ball and then complete a pass to a teammate. This helps encourage the when the attack is coming down the flank? Neville Feltham
person passing the ball in, to make good decisions. It all depends on the game situation. Generally, the qualities that the center
backs exude would have them stay central, but if there is a breakdown in
Q12: In this presentation you went straight into small side games as a a wide area, then the strong side center back may have to come out of the
warm up. Doesn’t that invite injuries? Mark Thompson central area to cover or win the ball back. Coaches should not expect this
Potentially… When I have used this activation activity with the Academy to happen naturally with young players, so we have to show them these
teams, I have done a dynamic warm-up beforehand. With younger players situations in practice.
we can sometimes get them into small games quickly as they are not
striking balls over distance on these small fields.

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 MIKE SMITH

Activation Activity 1 Coaches play the balls in each time to keep

WHY USE IT the tempo very high and if you score you
immediately transition to defense.
These activities provide
players repetition of
individual defending
technique - visual cues that
help players decide when
and where to provide cover.

SET UP
Play a series of 2v2 games
on 4 different shaped fields
(see diagram and field rules
below). Each field has a
coach feeding balls in.

HOW TO PLAY
Divide players into pairs. 2 Play games for 1 minute. Each
field has a different psychological
Play 8 x 1 minute games.
element for players. After 1
Each time a ball goes off minute, coach blows whistle to end
field, coach plays a new game. Losing team does 5 push
one in. 1 minute rest period ups for every goal differential they
between games and losing lost by.
team gets 5 push ups for
every goal differential they
lost by (within that minute).
After each game rotate the
players to a different field
and play different opponents.

TECHNIQUE
Field 1 – 2v2 directional
game on 12 x 18 yd field with
4 goals. Red attacks one end
line with small goals, white
attack the opposite side. 3 Players rotate fields and should
Field 2 – 2v2 directional try and challenge each team.
game on 10x10 yd field with Ensure that teams do not ever play
2 goals on the diagonal. the same team twice on the same
field.
Field 3 – 2v2 directional
game on 12x18 yd field
with 2 goals. Field 4 – 2v2
directional game on 12 yd
triangular field with 3 goals
near apex of each point. If
team with ball scores on any
goal, they get next ball from
coach and have to score
on one of the other 2 goals
next. Coaches should not
do much coaching during
this activation warm-up.

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 MIKE SMITH

Whole - 6v6 plus 2 1 The game starts with a pass from the coach
WHY USE IT to one team. The attacking team must try to
possess the ball and attempt to find a pass to
An environment where a teammate in the cone square in the centre of
players learn to react the field.
quickly in transition, zonally
mark and collectively
read visual cues.

SET UP
Play a 6v6 game with 2

35
neutrals on a 35x35 yd

yd
s
field. Place a flag goal in
s
each corner and a 12 yd box 35yd
in the middle of the grid. 2 Continue to keep possession
HOW TO PLAY and attack one of the flag
goals. Red team defend the
Two teams with 2 neutrals. red flag goal, white team
3 The defensive team attempts to defend the yellow flag goal.
Play 4 x 4 minute games
prevent attacking team playing
Each team is appointed
into the triangle by reading the
2 flag goals on opposite body language of the ball carrier
corners of the grid. Team and observing the dynamic
that has ball tries to connect movements of his teammates.
a pass to one of their
teammates or a neutral in
the central box. If successful
they score a point, then
they can attack one of
their 2 goals for an extra
point. The next time they
have the ball, they must go
for the opposite goal. If
team scores in goal, coach 4 Defensive shape should
plays next ball into the be tight and players should
constantly be surveying
same team, to encourage
their surroundings to help
better defending. If there make good decisions and
5 As ball moves, defensive team
is a turnover, the team that have to read the body language to communicate with their
has just won the ball, must of the passer and the movement teammates.
connect a minimum of 2 of the receiver. Defensive team
passes before they try and reads situation and chooses time
to press or drop off and delay
connect with one of their
attacker.
teammates in the central
box. Add a time restriction
to the attacking team.

TECHNIQUE
Put pressure on the ball,
collapsing team shape and
attempting to take away
passing lanes into the 6 If attacking team score
point by connecting into
triangle. Defender should square, defensive team has
be checking shoulder to to immediately transition to
take pictures of the dynamic defend the flag goal to prevent
situation behind him. another score against.

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 MIKE SMITH

Part - 1v1 1 Teams are looking for the lowest collective

WHY USE IT score. Defender starts the game with a pass to
the attacking player. The attacker cannot cross
This activity places players his end line onto the field until ball reaches
in a game environment him.
where they have many
repetitions of defending 1v1.

SET UP
1v1 game on a 15x7 yd
field. Place a small cone
goal (1 yard) in left hand
7y

bottom corner and a cone

ds

s
15yd
5 yards from that end
line, where the waiting 2 The defender moves as soon
defenders stand behind. as he passes the ball and sprints
onto the field to close the
HOW TO PLAY distance. He also bends his run
3 The defender must win the ball to cut out the passing lane to the
1st defender plays ball to
back or end his turn by forcing small cone goal on the end line,
the other end of the grid which represents the attacker’s
the ball out of bounds. The next
where the attacking player is defender ‘on deck’ is instructed teammate.
waiting. Play for 3 minutes to provide instruction and
and then rotate attacking communicate with the defender on
and defending team. Keep the field.
score individually only for
defenders (so they begin to
understand their tendencies)
and at end of 3 minute game,
calculate defending team
score. Key is to get a low
score (like golf!). Scoring: -2
= Defender wins ball in grid
and keeps for 2 seconds; -1 4 Instructions such as; bend
= Defender forces attacking your run, keep feet moving,
tackle, or recover. If he doesn’t
player to touch ball out of
communicate effectively,
grid; 0 = Defender wins coach can add a point to their
5 Moving goal on the end line to
ball and knocks out of grid; the opposite side of grid will force team score. Implementing
1 = Attacker dribbles over defenders to bend their run the this rule begins to reinforce
the defensive end line; 2 = opposite way and potentially have watching the field and learning
to tackle with the opposite foot. from what is going on..
Attacker passes ball through
small 1 yd goal on defensive
end line; 3 = Attacker
dribbles through small 1 yd
goal on defensive end line.

TECHNIQUE
Defender passes the ball
and then sprints to close
ground making a bent run.
Protect the first time pass 6 Players are usually better
defending to one side or
through the goal in opposite the other so it is imperative
corner (which represents a that we have them practice
passing lane to a teammate) both. Teach players correct
techniques for slide tackling.

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 MIKE SMITH

Part - 4v4 to one goal 1 Goalkeeper distributes ball from hands or feet
WHY USE IT and as ball is travelling to attackers, defenders
sprint out to cover distance and get in good
This activity places back 4 shape.
and goalkeeper in a game
environment where they
have to work as a group
to deny penetration & win
the ball back or clear.

SET UP
4v4 game to goal (with
goalkeeper) on a 30x44 yd 30
yd
field. Place all balls next s s
44yd
to goal and ball starts with 2 Attackers can only come onto
keeper. Play 3 x 5 minute field once the ball gets to their
games, with 2 minute break. line, then the game is live to
goal. Defenders and goalkeeper
HOW TO PLAY 3 Back 4 will have to deal with communicate to identify
dynamic movements from pressure and shift together to
Goalkeeper starts the action deny penetration.
attackers, such as overlaps and
by driving ball with his feet runs on the blind side.
to one of 4 lines of waiting
forwards/midfielders. Next
action will start with second
waiting goalkeeper to
keep tempo high and get
repetitions. Four attackers
try to score in the goal (for a
point), defenders attempt to
deny scoring opportunities
and get a point if they win
the ball from forwards and
play an outlet pass to target. 4 Defenders have to get in
If goalkeeper collects the good balance and react quickly
to the body language of ball
ball, he distributes it quickly
carrier, but also keep looking
by hand to a target on around to get additional
5 If penetration occurs, back 4
the opposite side - coach have to drop into their penalty informational cues from the
decides if its done quickly area and get touch tight with movement and speed of
enough to deserve a point. opponents. Deny shots and supporting attackers.
crosses.
TECHNIQUE
Back 4 defenders make play
predictable and win the ball
back. Need to guide players
to figure out what are the
cues to tell defenders to step
and pressure the ball. When
one of the back 4 step out of
line to pressure the ball, the
others must quickly arrange 6 If defenders or goalkeeper
win the ball, they quickly find
their angles and distance of an outlet pass to one of the 2
support and tuck in behind. waiting targets (can be players
or assistant coaches). Coach
calls offside and keeps score.

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 MIKE SMITH

Whole - 9v9 plus 1 1 In this 9v9 exercise we consider the

WHY USE IT relationships between defensive lines and
positions. Coach has whistle and referees
This activity places players in game.
a larger game environment
where coaches hope to
see lessons learned in
individual and small groups.

SET UP
8v8 plus goalkeepers 20yd
s

and a neutral player

on a 60x44 yard field.
44

s
20yd
yd
s

Assign players in a 3-3-2

formation. Place orange 20yd
s
2 First look at the relationship
cones on the offside lines between 2 of the 3 lines, for
(thirds of fields) to divide instance the relationship
entry into the attacking between attacking line - #9
3 As the ball travels from the and #11 - with the midfield
third into 3 even zones.
goalkeeper, #11 attempts to press line of #6, #8 and #10. Then
HOW TO PLAY the ball, win it, with the ultimate we can consider 3 lines and
positions.
goal of counter attack. At same
Teams work together in time, #9 slides across to deny ball
3 defined lines to try and back across defense.
make play predictable and
win ball back. Working off
cues, individual and small
group defending strategies
can be implemented within
the formation. Recovery
runs can now be addressed
when ball gets behind a
line of the field and how
the rest of the team slow 4 #10, #6 and #8 transition in
the opposition down. their triangle across middle of
the field to get players in the
Offside lines implemented
Direct Game Channel (DGC).
at thirds of the field. Watching the pressure on the
5 As ball moves up the field, the
angle and distance of the DGC ball, the back 3 (#2, #5 and #3)
TECHNIQUE changes and defensive team must step up to the offside line and
recognize that and create density slide over accordingly.
Defending team organize in that area.
lines of their team to make
play predictable. Must get
numbers up and prevent
progression towards the goal
and prevent penetration.
To place defending team
in moment of crisis and
numbers down, the player
that shoots at goal, has
to run around the yellow
corner flag cone, before
recovering to help his 6 The defending team’s players react
team win the ball back. to the vertical and horizontal position
of the ball and the opposition players
to organize their shape and stay
balanced.

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 MIKE SMITH

Part - Win ball and counter attack

1 Coach plays ball into first group of 3 attackers
WHY USE IT who dribble into scoring box. Defenders start
in the defensive half of this grid and once
This activity places players in attackers are in box can move to defend and
a game environment where attempt to win ball back..
they are set up to win the
ball back from the opposition
and counter attack quickly
to a waiting target.

SET UP

25
Play in half field with goal on

yd
s
goal line. Set up a central s
20yd
box near half-way line that
is 25 yd wide and 20 yd
long. Mark half way line in
this box and 6 defenders
begin in defensive half.
2 Defending team win ball back
HOW TO PLAY from attackers and immediately
look to counter attack with outlet
Coach plays ball into first pass to their center forward, who
group of 3 attackers who turns and goes to goal.
enter grid and try and
penetrate over the end line
on the dribble. The group
of 6 defenders attempt to
deny penetration, tackle and
win ball back. Immediately
the player who wins the
ball, finds a good pass into
the central forward who
has 3 touches to score goal.
Play 4 x 3 minute games.
Add central defender, but
allow 1 midfielder to burst
out of grid to support
3 Next ball the coach plays in, it
and make a 2v1 to goal, goes to the 3 attackers on the
but add a time element. opposite side who attempt the
same. Evolve the game after
TECHNIQUE successes, to include a center
defender to defend the center
Group of 6 defenders forward.
pressure and collapse on the
3 attackers, to read cues and
win ball back. On winning
ball, transition to counter
and play forward quickly
with a driven ball into the
center forward who looks to
beat the goalkeeper with a
touch or time limitation to
put under pressure to finish. 4 Allow one of the midfield defenders
(now on the attack) to sprint out of
zone to support forward going to goal.

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