Defending Three Gates: 3v4 Shift and Cover
Three defenders protect three gates against four attackers. They learn to press the ball, cover each other and shift together as a line.
- Age
- U11–Senior
- Players
- 7–10
- Duration
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Area
- 30 × 25 m
- Type
- Tactical
- Approach
- Global
- Format
- Waves
- Objectives
- Technical: 1v1 defending
- Tactical: Defensive organisation, Pressing
- Concepts worked on
- Tactical:ShiftingCoverCompactnessPressing
Training diagram
The defence shifts with the ball: one presses, one covers and the far defender closes the centre.
Legend
- Attacker
- Defender
- Run without ball
- Dribble
- Ball
- Cone
A defensive line works as a unit or it does not work at all. Three defenders protect three small gates on their end line against four attackers, so they cannot mark everybody: they must decide who presses, who covers and which gate to give up. The numbers force the line to stay compact and move with the ball.
Objective
Defend in inferiority as a line: press the ball carrier, cover the presser and shift together towards the ball.
Organisation
- 30 × 25 m area. On one end line, three 3 m gates (left, centre and right) marked with cones.
- Three defenders in front of the gates; four attackers start on the opposite end line.
- Extra players wait to replace attackers or defenders every few actions.
How it works
- The coach plays a ball to any attacker to start the action.
- The attackers score a point by dribbling through any gate. Each action lasts at most 12 seconds.
- The defenders score a point by winning the ball and dribbling over the attackers' end line.
- Rotate the defenders every 6 actions. 3 series of 4 minutes.
Coaching points
- The defender nearest the ball presses; push the attacker towards the touchline, away from the centre gate.
- The next defender covers 4–5 m behind the presser, diagonally.
- The far defender moves to the centre: the gate furthest from the ball is the least dangerous.
- Keep the line short — no more than 8–10 m between the outside defenders.
- When the ball is passed, everybody shifts while the ball travels, not after.
Progressions
- Add a fifth attacker (3v5) as a neutral who plays from the side.
- Narrow the gates to 2 m but add a fourth gate.
- The defenders have 8 seconds to score after winning the ball.
Regressions
- Play 3v3.
- Narrow the area to 25 m.
- The attackers may only pass sideways or backwards before the first dribble.
Variations
- Replace the gates with a goal and goalkeeper; the attackers shoot from outside a line at 12 m.
Key principles
- Press, cover, balance.
- Shift together towards the ball.
- Protect the centre first.
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