Clearing is the process of getting the ball out of the defensive third of the field into the neutral and offensive third. When on defense, your players should be working to get the ball out as quickly as possible. They do not want to waste time with footwork or back passing in a pressure-level situation. The defensive ‘clear’ is the first step in the transition from defense to offense on the field, and is important to set the tempo and direction of the ball.
In simplest language, a clear is a ‘big kick’ that gets the ball up and out of the defensive area. However, a successful clear does more than get the ball out of the defensive area. It also can eliminate a lot of retrograde movement by the offensive players and can begin an offensive attack. Your defenders should be taught that there are three types of clears:
- The Haphazard Clear: Occurs in the highest-pressure situation when there is no time to direct the ball on its way out—this clear just seeks to get the ball away from the goal at any cost.
- The Sidelines Clear: Occurs when the defenders don’t have time enough to begin executing an offensive maneuver through the clear, but don’t want to send it to the opponent by mistake. Sending the ball to the sidelines and out-of-bounds is a way to slow the ball down and force the opponent to embark on a new strategy, although the opponent does retain possession.
- The Offensive Clear: This clear is ideal and will spark offensive runs. The ball is sent to an offensive player on the same team and an offensive play results from the clear.
As with any soccer strategy, if your players have solid technique and a good grasp of ball basics, they will be better equipped to take an offensive clear each time they are working on defense. A good defender has good one-on-one skills that allow him to outmaneuver his opponent, set up the ball, and send it on his own ‘agenda’ rather than feeling rushed and unable to use strategy.
U-8
At this point, your players are developing ball skills as well as physical strength. Because of the smaller nature of the small-sided fields, the U-6 and U-8 player will not have to utilize the ‘clear’ as much as his older counterparts. However, it is important to teach the fundamentals of the game, which includes defensive techniques and tactics. Furthermore, it is good practice to get your younger players kicking the ball with a lot of strength and force.
A good idea at this point is to keep instruction basic. You want to explain why a clear would occur (to get the ball away from your own goal) and what you want to do while clearing (ideally, get the ball to one of your teammates). A good drill to practice kicking strength and aiming is the Point and Clear drill:
Rules: Have 5 or so kids line up in a straight line, facing you or your assistant, who is standing about 10-20 yards away. Roll a ball to the child who is first in line. The player must point (using his finger) where he wants the ball to go (he will be pointing to you, as you are the ‘offensive player’ who is trying to collect the clear), run to the ball, and clear it using one touch.
This drill gets the players used to one touch on the ball. The pointing with the finger engages the brain so that the body has some sense of direction in regards to where it wants the ball to go. Finally, the clear itself helps to develop leg strength in your young players.
U-9 To U-12
At this age, your players must start becoming accustomed to learning strategy as they do drills. Go through the three types of clears with your team and explain that the purpose of a clear is to start an offensive movement whenever possible. A good idea at this age is to set up a game-like scenario so your kids have a way to apply the things you are teaching.
A good drill for the 9-12 age group is the Points Game:
Rules: Divide your players into three equal groups. One group, the Feeders, will stand in a line perpendicular to the right of the goal, about 30 yards out. The defenders will stand in a line behind the goal (one defender will come out at a time). The third group of attackers will stand even with the Feeder group, but closer towards the center of the field. Set up a cone near the goal straight ahead of the feeders.
The feeder starts with the ball. He and the first attacker in line begin a run towards the goal. When the feeder reaches the cone, he stops and sends the ball back to the attacker (who is waiting around the penalty mark area. The defender has come out at this point as well. The defender and the attacker fight for control of the ball. Meanwhile, the feeder has ‘switched teams.’ He runs back across and up the field, acting as if he is a forward on the team of the defender. The defender wants to clear the ball out to the feeder, while the attacker wants to score a goal.
Award points: The defender gets one point for a haphazard or sidelines clear; two points for a completed clear to the feeder. The attacker gets one point for a shot on goal, two points for a goal. Keep score.
13 And Up
Your players are capable of understanding different defensive strategies at this point and should be attempting to use the offensive clear every time they take a clear in the defensive zone. There are several drills to reinforce the concept of an offensive clear:
A drill that focuses on the sweeper (closest defender to the goal) is called Sweeper Clearing:
Rules: Have two defenders stand at each side of the goal line inside the goal. Each has three balls. Meanwhile, six attackers (three on each side) are positioned at the sidelines near the center line. Next to the attackers are two cones with about two yards between them. Have the sweepers dribble out of the goal into the goal box and then execute a clear to the attackers on the same side. The sweepers should be aiming in between the two cones next to the attackers. Go through the lines of attackers until all have received the balls. Have the sweepers switch sides and go again, but move the attackers and their cones further away each time. Variations include having the sweepers ‘cross-clear’ (clear to the opposite side of the field than where they are standing) or having the attackers dribble downfield, pass back to the sweeper, then sprint back upfield to receive the clear.
A drill that emphasizes clearing air balls is called Switch Sides:
Rules: Divide into two teams. One team (defense) spreads out behind the goal and the second team (attack) spreads out at midfield. All attackers have balls. Set up two cones at each end of the penalty box. The attacker starts downfield with the ball and must shoot before reaching the invisible line created by the two cones. The defender comes forward at this point and must block the ball from entering the goal (no hands).
The attackers get one point for scoring a goal, while defenders get one point for clearing the ball out of the goal area. Have the teams switch roles. When the defenders clear, have them try to aim towards the standing attackers at midfield to practice aiming.
