How To Coach Your Team In Pressing & Covering In Soccer

Pressing and covering are two tactics necessary for a successful defense in soccer. When an attacking team advances on your net, it's your team's responsibility to provide the goalie with coverage and support. By using two common types of defense, zonal and individual, you can teach your team the importance of a strong defense in general. Pressing and covering should be taught using various drills and scrimmages, teaching your team members the various facets of a successful defense.

Step 1

Explain the differences between the types of defensive strategies during practice with your team. Pressing is usually achieved through individual defense, in which each player puts pressure on the member of the opposite team who is handling the ball, while covering can be accomplished through either individual or zonal defense, in which each defensive player covers a certain part of the field.

Step 2

Demonstrate the various defensive strategies using a playbook or board. Show with markings where each player should be on the field during either type of defense. When playing pressure or individual defense, each player covers a player on the other team and is never more than an arm's length away when his offensive player is handling the ball. If playing zonal defense, break the field into sections to show where each player should be.

Step 3

Lead your team in conditioning drills to help build up strength in order to execute either style of defense. Since pressing usually requires endurance, conditioning runs and drills ensure that your team members can keep up with the offense when the ball is being handled. Run races and laps so your team is up to the task.

Step 4

Set up drills for your players to practice pressing and covering. A pressing drill could be executed by giving one player the ball to play as the offense and have two defensive players defend the goal together. Or, run the same drill as a one-on-one play. When practicing coverage or zonal defense, set up markers that break up the various zones near the crease and challenge players to stay in their zones while practice offensive players maneuver the ball to the goal.

Step 5

Play scrimmages with your team in order to ensure they understand and can execute either style of defense. While showing them on paper and in drills how to play can set the foundation for an effective defense, requiring them to apply that knowledge in a game will be the most effective way to coach your team closer to a defensive win.