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Home/Training Drills/Defensive Drills/Defending as a Back Four
Teloframe OfficialReviewed by Teloframe

Defending as a Back Four

Defend as a connected unit. Slide across together with the ball, keep 6 to 8 metres between each defender, press with the nearest player while the rest cover and balance, and stay compact to force the play wide.

Live animationDEF
Duration
12 min
Total drill time
Players
7
Recommended
Pitch
50 × 26 m
Setup space
Level
Advanced
Skill required
Intensity
Medium
Physical demand
Age band
U13-U14
Any format

Setup & instructions

Attackers pass the ball across the top of a grid; the back four slides across to stay in front of it. The nearest defender presses the ball, the others tuck in and cover behind. Keep the line straight and the distances tight, and read the pass that tries to split the line. Use clear calls: Step, Drop, Slide, Hold. Progress to a live small-sided game.

Setup time: 2 min

Coaching focus

FROM SESSION PLAN

Coaching points

  • Slide across as one unit, taking your cue from the pressing defender
  • Keep 6 to 8 metres between each defender, no gaps to split
  • Nearest defender presses the ball, the rest cover and balance
  • Stay in a straight line and stay compact, force the play wide
  • Communicate: Step, Drop, Slide, Hold, so everyone moves together
  • Read and step in front of the pass that tries to go through

Common mistakes

  • Ball-watching and sliding late, so a gap opens between defenders
  • One defender stepping out of the line and breaking the shape
  • Distances too wide, letting a pass split the line
  • No communication, so the unit moves in pieces instead of together

Progressions & regressions

VARIATIONS

Progressions

  • Add a striker in behind so the line must judge when to hold or drop
  • Play live in a small-sided game with the back four defending a goal
  • Reward the attackers for playing through the line to raise the stakes

Regressions

  • Walk the slide with a call-and-move rhythm before adding pace
  • Remove the through-ball option so the focus is purely the slide
  • Shrink the grid so the distances are easier to hold
Equipment
Markers×4
Audience
U13-U14

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TeloframeTeloframe
The connected football coaching platform. Plan sessions, build drills, manage teams, develop players, visualize tactics.
Product
Tactics Board3D PitchAnimation TimelineAI ToolsSession PlannerDrill EditorTeam ManagementPlayer DevelopmentClub WorkspaceExport & Sharing
Explore
Tactical LibraryFormations guideSession plansTraining Drill LibraryYouTube tutorialsBlog
For
Academy coachesFirst-team staffFederationsContent creatorsAgenciesSession Planner SoftwareTactics Board Software
Company
AboutPricingFAQContactCareersOpen TeloframeSecurity
© 2026 Teloframe (formerly FC Tactix). All rights reserved.
Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceData Processing AddendumSubprocessorsCookie Policy