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Reading a Drifting Defense

Spot a gap on the inside when defenders slide across the field.

By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026

Set up

Three attackers face two tag defenders in a 20-yard wide area.

Core: Jogs. Beat your own count of tags kept.

Ages
14 and up
Time
15 min
Players
You and 3 partners
Space
Yard or field
Bring
Tag belts, cones, rugby ball, 3 partners
Level · skill
Advanced · Evasion

The steps

How it works

  1. Three attackers face two tag defenders in a 20-yard wide area.
  2. The defenders drift across to the outside.
  3. The carrier looks for the space inside the drifting defender and cuts back.
  4. Play 12 rounds and talk about what you saw.

Coaching point

Watch their feet, find the gap.

Safety: Tag only: touch with two hands or pull a tag belt. No grabbing, pushing or tackling.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Tag-belt dodge: a partner tries to pull your tag while you step and weave, with no body contact. A pulled tag just means swap roles.

Challenge

Pick a level: Less (partner walks), Core (jogs), More (two cones to weave). Beat your own count of tags kept.

Story

You are a fox slipping past the farmer.

My best

Beat your own count

Beat your own count of tags kept. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

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