Football · Defending · Positional play

Back four: shift, cover and drop

A back four and keeper defend against six attackers, shifting with the ball, covering the full-back and stepping up or dropping as a line.

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Start / 5
Time
25 min
Players
11–14
Age
U16+
Area
Half pitch, 55 × 68 m
Equipment
1 full-size goal2 mini goals15 balls6 bibs

Setup

  1. Half pitch with a full-size goal and two mini goals on halfway, one in each channel.
  2. GK and back four against six attackers: two wingers, two strikers and two midfielders. The coach is on halfway with the balls.

How it runs

  1. Block 1, 6 min: attackers move the ball around the box at walking pace; the back four shifts and calls on every pass.
  2. Block 2, 3 × 5 min live: attackers score in the big goal; the back four scores by passing into a mini goal after a regain.
  3. 90 s rest between blocks. The coach restarts into a midfielder after every goal or turnover.

Coaching points

  • Ball-side full-back presses the winger, the nearest centre-back covers 8–10 m inside at an angle, the far full-back tucks in level with the far post.
  • Keep 10–12 m between each defender and move on every pass, while the ball travels, not after it arrives.
  • Closed ball (pressure on it, back pass, back to goal): step up 5 m together. Open ball (time to look up): drop 5 m together.
  • One centre-back or the keeper calls the line, loud and early: up, hold, drop.

Common mistakes

  • One defender drops while the others step, playing the striker onside.
  • The far full-back stays wide and leaves the back-post run free.
  • Both centre-backs go to the ball and nobody covers.

Say it: “Press, cover, tuck. Step together, drop together.”

Make it harder

  • Add a seventh attacker as an overlapping full-back.
  • Attackers may play in behind at any time, with offside called.

Make it easier

  • Attackers on two touches at walking pace for longer.
  • Remove one striker: 5v4.

Pairs well with

Reviewed by the Sportdify coaching team.