What is covering and recovering?

Practice

1. Recovery runs

Including recovery runs appropriately in your training sessions is key. Giving players the opportunity to work on these skills gives them much-needed experience to draw on during matches. Get players to think about where they are in relation to their teammates and the opposition. 

Make sure you make it as fun as possible for the players. Don't just do sprints or shuttle runs. Try to include the ball as much as possible. Check out our YouTube channel for ideas on how to do this. 

2. Include incentives

Make sure you give the defenders some incentive for winning the ball back or recovering their position quickly. Don't just stop the practice and start again. Give them the chance to score a goal or points during the session. 
 
Look out for opportunities to improve their six core capabilities during the practice. Did they show great technique during their covering run? Did they put their body in the perfect position during the recovery? Did they consistently scan to see the position of their teammates and opponents? Praise them and let them know you noticed. 
 

3. Work with the ball

Covering and recovering work in conjunction with the position of the ball. Get your players to work on their positioning based on where the ball is. For example, ask them to remember the following statements:  

• The closer the opposition are to the goal, the closer I need to be to my opponent.
• As the ball travels, my angles and distances will change. 

Players should always be thinking about where the ball is and if there is pressure on it. 

Top tips 

• Get in a place where you can see the ball, your opponents, and the opponent's goal. 
• If you're defending a counter-attack, get between the ball and the goal as quickly as possible. 
• When your team loses possession, think about defending as soon as possible. 
• Watch your teammates carefully so you can be there if they're beaten. 
• Be aware of where you are on the pitch and be ready to adapt your position at any time.
• Consider the angle and distance you are from your teammates – don't be too close. 

And remember, football isn't the only way to work on covering and recovering. Your players can hone their skills by playing other sports, too. Have fun with it.