How to defend better

A sweeper can shore up a shaky defence

By David Clarke

Giving your players a chance to play a sweeper role gets them running all over the pitch and helping them to learn how support play can stop opposition attacks.

A sweeper basically covers the defence. At 11-a-side they will be covering the back four, at 7-a-side they will be covering a back two. It means you have extra cover in defence - since they are not burdened by any specific marking assignments the sweeper can go wherever they are needed.

You really want a fast player who can read the game, tackle and pass over long distances. But when you practice this get all your players to try the position because you are developing their soccer brains by getting them to make decisions and organise the team all over the pitch;

• Who do they support?

• Which players are most vulnerable and need help?

• Is the space left behind the defenders covered?

• Who is covering when defenders join the attack?

Make a game of it

Play a game where four attackers are running at four defenders with a sweeper behind them. The sweeper can start in a central position behind the defense, but from there he might chase after a through ball or sprint wide to cover a defender and create a 2v1 situation.

Change the number of attackers and defenders to suit your players - so, if the attackers are struggling to get through to the sweeper, take out a defender. If the defence is struggling take out an attacker.

Let each sweeper cover 4 plays then change them.

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