This table was offered as a guide to curriculum development, describing which defensive topics can be covered year by year during player development.

U11

• 1v1 marking
• individual defending skills - no get, no turn, no move, no shoot
• basic defending at restarts
• introduction to team shape in defense
• introduction to transition

U12-U13

• second and third defender play
• 1v1 marking near ball with zone coverage away from ball
• shape - getting it, keeping it, changing it quickly
• transition basic counterattack (choreographed)
• defenders overlapping to give numbers up and width in attack
• working with keeper
• sweeper play - angles, communication, basic visual cues
• playing ball out of the back
• defending at restarts
• recovery and defending against breakaways
• reinforce U11 topics

U14-U15

• low pressure defense with high pressure attack
• high pressure defense with low pressure attack
• reading opponent's shape to decide when and where to go forward
• counterattack - reading visual cues (not choreographed)
• marking out dangerous player
• recognizing and adjusting defending tactics to match conditions
• reinforce all U11, U12-U13 topics, especially shape and transition

U15-U19

• restraining lines
• doubling up on the ball
• gamesmanship in defense
• alternative systems of play
• advanced change of tactics during match
• playing short sided
• reinforce U11-U14 topics