Coaching Corner: Zonal Defending
   The key is to focus on the ball
By Bobby Clark, University of Notre Dame - Honorary NSCAA Staff Coach (from the NSCAA Coaching Newsletter - June 8th, 2004)

1. Pairs pass the ball approximately five yards apart, alternating feet.
    
2. Players in pairs moving between a network of balls. The lead players perform a series of movements which their partner imitates (knees up, sideways running, etc).
    
3. One partner from the pair stretches and the other dribbles around and nutmegs the stretching partner. On the whistle, the dribbling player must dribble quickly back to partner. Last one back does two push-ups.
    
4. Two players chest passing. They must look directly into their partner’s eyes. First player intermittently throws ball in a loop.
   Coaching Point: Receiving player must move feet to be able to see the ball and the player (must see two things at once).
    
5. Partners pass the ball 10 yards apart. Intermittently one of the players traps the ball with the sole of the foot. Partner must sprint forward to touch ball with his/her foot and quickly back pedal to original position.
    
    

Coaching Point: Players must read their partner’s body language & anticipate when the ball will be trapped. “React before it happens”.

Players 1 & 2 pass ball back and forth. As they do, Player 3, the attacker, moves around the grid. Player 4, the defender, shadows 3. Initially 1 & 2 are instructed not to pass the ball in.
 
Coaching Point: Player 4 must move with player 3 so that player 4 can see the ball and keep player 3 in view at the same time. Player 4 moves feet constantly anticipating pass into 3’s feet.

Progression: "Focus on the ball—not the man.”
Same exercise as above, except 1 & 2 are instructed to play ball into 3 intermittently. 4 now must be prepared to step up and intercept pass.

Coaching Points: Defender must anticipate the pass before it happens by reading the passer's body language. Defender must decide:

1. Can I intercept the ball before the attacker receives it gets it?
   If not…
2. Can I steal ball the off the attacker's first touch?
   If not…
3. Can I force the opponent to play it backwards?
   If player turns with ball…
4. Can I make the attacker’s play predictable?
    

The defender has to constantly read the visual cue of whether the attacker can receive a pass over the top. Defender must read the body language of the serving player to see if he/she will play ball into feet or over top into space.

Note: If the defender intercepts the pass in, he/she plays the ball back to the servers. The attacker's goal is to dribble over the line.  Offside is introduced.

 
Activity 2 - Introduce a 2nd Defender

Same exercise except two defenders must read the ball and decide who will step for the interception.

Coaching Points:

1. Defenders both read visual cues of the passing players.
2. One defender goes to intercept the ball while the other drops to give cover. As the attacker moves laterally, defenders switch - “verbal communication”

Progression: The player who passes the ball in can follow the ball into the into grid to make it a 2v2.
  

Activity 3

Back 4 responds to movement of ball and reads if ball is to be passed. Back 4 drops off or pushes up.  (See Diagram 2)

Progressions:

1. A center forward is introduced. Back 4 responds to movement of ball and CF.
2. Second CF added plus 2 wide players. Coach plays ball to CF or 2 wide players.

Coaching Points:

• One center back must determine when to drop and when to push up. When to hold offside line.
• If the ball goes wide, outside backs pressure the ball to force inside.  The ball should be forced inside because the two center backs get pulled away from center of the field too much if the ball goes down the touchline. This is an important point for coaches who debate whether to force ball in or out.
  

3. Two CMF players are added. One of whom can penetrate with the ball.  A goalkeeper is added for the defending team to counter to.  (See Diagram 3)
    

  Web Administrator    Ken Gamble