Breakaway Defenders

Focus

Hard Running, Front & Square, Run & Carry, Forward line delivery.

Skills

Kicking, Handballing.

Purpose

There are times when it's appropriate to grant defenders the freedom to run off their opponent to provide an attacking option upfield...although in a game situation, there must some cover for the opponents left behind. This drill teaches defenders to run the lines to become a loose option, and requires accurate finishing after hard gut running.

Players

18⁺

Ages

13⁺

Balls

Cones

Distance (max)

160m

Setup
Pairs form at stations (A) and (E). Singles line up behind six cones in the centre, facing the wing.
Step 1
(A1) starts with the football with partner (A2) in the goalsquare. (A2) breaks towards the pocket and (A1) kicks short to them.
Step 2
(A2) covers some ground before kicking to (B) leading from the centre. (C) gets front and square to (B), (D) covers the back.
Step 3
(B) marks and both (C) and (D) share the football if possible with hands.
Step 4
Meanwhile both (A1) and (A2) have put themselves in the contest by sprinting upfield after their kick.
Step 5
(C) or (D) handball infield to whoever is in best position of (A1) and (A2), and this player steadies before kicking to a leading (E1).
Step 6
(E1) backpedals after marking or taking control of the football. The drill now repeats up the other side of the ground following a break by (E2) to the opposite pocket.

(A)'s join station (E).

(B) (C) (D) rotate through those 3 stations
Step 7
After 7 minutes, rotate (A)s with left (B C D), and (E)s with right (B C D).

Optionally you may reverse the direction of flow around the ground as well.