Defensive Cover in 7v7 Soccer — Youth Coaching Tips & Drills
Using Defensive Cover in 7v7 Youth Soccer
Discover how defensive cover works and why backing up your teammates is the key to stopping attackers and protecting the goal.
Key Takeaways
- Provide Support – Defensive cover means positioning yourself to support a teammate who is directly challenging the opponent with the ball.
- Creating Layers – By forming layers of defense, teams create a shield that makes it harder for attackers to break through.
- Always Adjusting - Good defenders constantly adjust their position to be ready to step in if a teammate is beaten, keeping the goal protected.
Full Video Transcript
Have you ever wished there was one more teammate behind you to stop an attacker from scoring? Even the best defenders need help sometimes. Let's talk about defensive cover and how you can help stop the other team.
Imagine the goal you're defending is a treasure chest. You don't want anyone to get close to it. As defenders, you form a shield to keep the attackers as far away from the treasure as possible. If one player can't stop the attacker, another steps in to help.
When your teammate challenges an opponent, you should move nearby to provide backup. This support is called cover. You usually want to put yourself diagonally behind your teammate toward the middle of the field. Doing this creates a second layer of defense. This way, you're ready to help if the attacker gets past them or if the ball is passed to another player.
If the ball is passed to another attacker on your side, you move to challenge them while your teammate shifts to cover you. Creating layers of defense allows us to delay the attack long enough for more teammates to get back and help.
Quiz question: If your defensive partner is next to you and moves forward to defend against an attacking player with the ball, where should you move to? If you said move to a space that is diagonally behind her, you are correct.
Remember, keeping the attacker away from your goal is like protecting a treasure chest. You need more than one person working together to be successful.