Four Spot Clear Drill
Does your team need help clearing the ball? Start with this basic drill.
This Drill Highlights:
Clearing Options
Re-Defending
Running Through Catches
Spacing
Description:
This drill can be done as a skeleton or with attackers that are re-defending the drill. To set up, you’ll need the goalie in her cage with balls and four defenders on GLE. Have the players run their paths (see diagram) to get a sense of field awareness and spacing. Here are the progression steps for this drill:
Four defenders run their lines and get clears from the goalie. They make at least two passes up field. Try to avoid passing middle every time.
Add in re-defenders (attack players) to mark up and challenge the clear options.
Add in 3 more players and start in a muddle. The midfielders need to get up the field and the low D knows their general patterns. Two whistles will alert them to ‘reverse’ the ball.
Highlighted Skills:
Clearing, re-defending, running through catches, spacing
Key Coaching Points:
Make sure the defenders are running through their passes from the goalie (even when there are no re-defenders in the drill). This will create good habits and take away the interception.
