⚽The Biggest Mistake Most Coaches Make

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter! In this issue, we're focusing on:

1. ⚽The Biggest Mistake Most Coaches Make

2. 👉2 New Drills for You!

⚽The Biggest Mistake Most Coaches Make

When I was doing my coaching certification, the instructor asked us a seemingly simple question: "Which phase of the game is easier to coach—with the ball or without the ball?"

Most of us immediately thought of offense. Scoring goals, creative plays, dribbling—that's what's most fun. The instructor's surprising answer was: Defense is easier to coach.

At first glance, that might sound like a paradox, but he was right. When the ball comes into play on offense, it brings with it an avalanche of complexity: technique, ball control, perception, and decision-making under pressure. The demands on each individual player skyrocket.

Defense, on the other hand, reduces the game to its clear, fundamental processes: closing down space, shifting, and staying compact. These actions are not only easier to understand, but they can also be standardized and automated much more effectively. They form the indispensable foundation on which every successful team is built.

First Steps with a New Team: Laying the Defensive Foundation

A classic mistake many coaches make is taking over a new team and immediately practicing complex offensive patterns. This is like building a house without a foundation. The consequence? The entire structure becomes unstable.

A smarter approach: Start with defensive work. Ask your team: "How do we prevent the opponent from scoring goals?"

The choice of defensive formation depends heavily on the squad and the coach's philosophy. For example, a team can attack in a 4-3-3 but switch to a compact 4-4-2 when playing against the ball. Other teams rely on intense man-marking or a five-man backline.

The 3 Basic Rules of Defense—and Why They Work

1. Protect the Center First and foremost, make it clear to your players that the center is sacred. Why? From the middle, the opponent has the most options—they can go left, right, or forward. From the sideline, they can only go in one direction. Therefore, it's better to force the opponent wide than to open up the center.

2. Stay Compact Large gaps between the defense and midfield are an invitation to the opponent. Why? In these spaces, they can turn, receive passes, and organize the game. Explain to your players: "When the defense drops back, the midfield follows. When the midfield presses forward, the defense presses with them." Keep the distance between lines to a maximum of 35-40 meters.

3. Communication is Everything Without clear commands like "Man on!", "Switch!", or "Shift!", holes will appear. But also explain the "why": if two players go to the same opponent, another player is automatically left free. Establish clear roles: who gives the commands? Typically, the goalkeeper and the center-backs.

José Mourinho on Defensive Principles

This short video explains the difference between a tactical system and the basic principles in football. Former coach José Mourinho explains that the fundamental principles of the game, like compact defending, should be permanent regardless of the tactical system used. He uses Rafa Benítez as an example, who always instructed his teams to defend compactly, which is a core principle of all good teams.

The Role of Mentality

Defending is not a matter of talent; it's a matter of attitude. It's about the willingness to put in the effort, to cover for a teammate, and to sacrifice for the team. A team that is willing to defend collectively is nearly impossible to beat.

Conclusion: First the Foundation, Then the Creativity

Offense is the art, defense is the duty. When the defensive organization is solid and the team can rely on it, you've created the perfect foundation for creativity in the attack. Because only a team that is secure in defense can play with courage going forward.

Your Quick Win for the Next Training Session

At the beginning of your next practice, take just five minutes. Have your team line up in your preferred defensive formation (e.g., a 4-4-2) and then call out different commands: "Ball left!", "Ball right!", "Ball forward!", "Ball back!". Without the ball, players must shift in the correct direction, control the distances between each other, and repeat the commands loudly.

Why is this so effective? You are training communication, distances, and collective movement in an extremely simple and clear exercise. This builds muscle memory for the most important defensive processes and lays the foundation for the entire season—without any cones, passes, or goals.

👉2 New Training Exercises for You!

We’ve just released 2 brand-new training drills. With a monthly or yearly subscription, you’ll get unlimited access to all existing and upcoming videos.

Curious but not subscribed yet?

No problem – you can test the platform free for one month!
Simply send us a short email with the subject line “OK”, and we’ll send you your voucher code for a free month.

📧 [email protected]

Enjoy testing – and happy coaching!

Training videos created with Once Sport Coach Board - the professional coaching board for football coaches

Drills:

Check out our Homepage for exclusive training videos and products.

Was this post forwarded to you? Subscribe here.

Have an idea or feedback to share? [email protected]