Defend Deep, Counter Wide
Six defending a real goal against eight, with target players on the wings to break out to.
The hardest thing a young team does is defend a lead. This is that, with the counter attached so it never becomes pure survival.
Starting at Core — your team is set to mixed.
30 min in the practice phase · Eight attacking against six plus a keeper, target players on the wings
- Ages 11–13
- Eight attacking against six plus a keeper, target players on the wings
- 30 min in the practice phase
- Cones, two goals, keepers, pinnies, balls
Grab Cones, two goals, pinnies, balls.
Build Mark a 42-by-80-yard field with a goal and keeper at each end.
Place The attacking side in a 1-3-2-3; the defending six deep in a 1-4-2 around their box, with a target player on each wing.
A long narrow field, one team packed around its own box, a target player standing wide on each side.
- 1
Organize the players
Mark the field, set the deep block and the attacking shape, put a target player on each wing.
“You're protecting this goal. Win it and you go — or find the player out wide.”
- 2
Show the jobs
Name the two jobs before playing: block the direct route to goal, and push everything out to the wings where a shot is worth less.
“Block the straight line to our goal. Make them go around the outside.”
- 3
Play
Run continuously. Stop the first time someone leaves a forward to chase the ball — that is the failure this session exists to catch.
“Don't just run out after the ball. Know where their forwards are.”
Look for A defender checking over their shoulder before stepping — the habit that separates a block from a crowd.
- 4
Switch and repeat
Count a goal from a counter double, so defending stays connected to attacking.
“Win it and go. Counter counts double.”
Too hard? Even it up at 8 v 8 so the block gets a rest. Too easy? 10 v 6 — a real siege.
Go deeper · 3 notes
Why it works
A deep block only fails in two ways: someone steps out and leaves a runner, or the whole unit stops moving. Both are visible here within a minute, and both are fixable by instruction rather than ability.
What they learn
Defend the player, the area, and the goal — in that order, and never only the ball.
What's next
The season's last taught session. After this, revisit whatever needed it most.
Where does this come from?
US Soccer and Massachusetts Youth Soccer — their published nine-a-side session plans for U13 and up.
A governing body published this — the same organization that writes the rules your league plays by.