In soccer, learning to defend is typically much easier than learning to attack. The ease of teaching defense is because the defender's primary job is to dispossess the attacker. Even if the defender does not gain possession of the ball by dispossessing the attacker, this allows the defenders support to close down the loose ball or cause the ball to go out of play. An essential element in good defending is to remember the primary role is to break down the attack. Attackers, on the flip side, typically have to be more creative to beat defenders. Simply pressuring the attacker will often cause the attacker to turn over possession. Show An aspect of defending which we cannot overlook is the need to quickly go on the attack once the defender has won possession. Remind players often that the importance of attacking starts the moment the ball is in possession. When defending 1v1’s in soccer, it is imperative to focus on the following key elements:
Remember that the player closest to the attacker should be the player pressuring the ball. Players should sprint to close down space as quickly as they can, then when they get 5 yards from the attacker they should slow down and take steps backward to match the pace of the attacker. During this time, the defender should slowly close down the space between the attacker and defender. Often proper pressure will cause the attacker to lose the ball. One way to have players recall the proper way to defend is by the term “Quick, Slow, Sideways, Low”. Quick refers to the defender speed while closing down the attacker with the ball. Closing down the attacker should be done at full speed sprint and note that it is often best to close down the ball when the ball is in flight. Slow refers to the defender's ability to change speed and direction required to start moving in the same path of the attacker. Sideways relates to the body positioning often used when defending. The defender should turn their body at a 45-degree angle to create the largest amount of defensive area. If the defender was to face forward, the attacker could then go around or between the defender’s legs. If the defender turns perpendicular to the attacker, the attacker could easily attack the backside of the defender and have the advantage. However, if the defender positions their body at a 45-degree angle, they will have covered the largest area of space while giving the defender an advantage to channel the attacker. Low refers to the defender's body position which should be bent knees with weight on the balls of the feet, chest leaning over the toes and low center of gravity for greater explosion/quick change of direction. Remind defenders that they should “do their work” during the flight of the ball. So this means defenders should close down the player as the ball is in flight. Tight pressure causes the attacker to look down, where lose pressure allows the attacker to lift their head and have a better vision of defenders, space, and possibilities. Another important aspect of defending is knowing when to tackle. The defender should be patient and look for queues to predict the right time to tackle.
Also, defenders should learn how to channel an attacker. This simply means to encourage the attacker to go a particular direction dictated by the defender. Typically channeling is done by bending the run on approaching the attacker to encourage the attacker to move the ball away from the defender. Too much bend will allow the attacker to blow past defender, so the run must be slightly bent just enough to make up the attackers mind for them. Typically we want to channel attackers for the following reasons:
To close this tip on defending, I want to make the third mention of a critical rule of defending, and that is proper defensive pressure will often cause the attacker to lose the ball. Therefore, teach your players the above mentioned defending techniques, and you should see a difference in your player’s abilities to defend. Good luck coach. The fast pace of soccer is a big draw for kids who like to move. While charging down the field to score a goal is a dream for many players, teams need to work on youth soccer defensive drills too. After all, if the opposing team can't score against you, they can't win. As a coach, you can change up defensive drills to make practice fun and engaging for your youth soccer players. Make drills a routine part of each practice, along with instruction based on recent games and scrimmages. That way, you're young players will know what to expect and be ready to focus at practice time. Skip to a Section...To build an effective team, you need to teach your young players essential defensive skills. Make sure team members know that they should try to keep the ball out of your team's penalty area to limit scoring opportunities for the other team. There is a lot to know to be an effective defender in soccer. But you can get your youth player on the right trajectory by teaching them these defensive concepts. Slowing Down an AttackFor defenders, winning back the ball is always valuable. But let your defensive players know that slowing down attackers can be just as effective. Delaying the other team's route to the goal can allow other team members to catch up and put more pressure on the attacking team. How can a defender slow down an offensive attacker? Make sure your defenders know they should stand up to attackers and get in their way - it's a simple strategy that can go a long way for young players! Steering to the SidelinesA critical skill every defender needs to learn is how to guide attackers to the sidelines. Why is this important? It's harder to score from the sidelines than in the middle of the field. Attackers may need to make a move to the center of the field or cross the ball into the box to make a threat. Plus, pushing attackers to the sidelines is a great delay tactic that can give more teammates time to reach the defensive end of the field. It's not hard for players to learn how to steer opponents to the sidelines, but it does take practice. Soccer drills for kids can help defenders develop this essential skill. TacklingTackling is a tactic to dislodge the ball from an attacker so that your team regains possession. While defenders can keep possession after a tackle, that's not their primary goal. Their aim is to get the ball away from the other team. Make sure defenders know to approach attackers quickly, then pull up. They may want to stand up to the opposing player and wait for a mistake or choose to tackle. When committing to a tackle, players need to act decisively without any hesitation. Staying on Your FeetLots of younger players are eager to try out slide tackles or head balls. While these skills look impressive, they can create problems if poorly timed or executed. It's easy for an attacker to rush past a defending on the ground and charge the goal. Coach players to stand up and resume play right away if they fall or slide tackle. Keeping a Positive MindsetEven the best defenders in the world get beat by attackers. And top teams give up goals to opponents. Defenders need to learn to keep their emotions in check and not let setbacks distract them. If defenders lose their cool, they may make a careless mistake or foul that gives an advantage to opponents. 4 Soccer Drills for Coaches to Build a Strong DefenseWhen coaching soccer, you need to have drills prepared before each practice. That way, you can ensure you have the right equipment on hand and let your players know what to expect. Here are four simple defensive drills that you can use with your young players. #1: 1v1 Defending DrillThis simple but effective two-player drill requires only a few cones and a soccer ball. Once you teach it in practice, your players can easily replicate it at home with a partner. It teaches young players how to stay in front of attackers and to help guide them to the sidelines. Agility is essential for both defenders and attackers -- and this simple drill can help. Divide your team into two groups and tell the attackers to try to reach an endpoint marked by two cones within five seconds. Your defenders need to prevent attackers from reaching the target. For this individual drill, you'll set up four cones about two yards apart, with another cone five yards away and a final cone seven yards beyond that. Instruct players to start at the first cone and charge each of the following three cones and circle around them. Have them run through the next cone and pause briefly before sprinting past the final one. This individual drill requires three cones set up in a triangle shape. Players will knock the ball sideways the length of the triangle, backpedal around the tip of the triangle, and connect with the ball on the other corner. Every youth soccer coach needs to make each practice fun and motivational while helping young players build new skills. Whether you coach recreational players or a select team, having a go-to list of defensive drills is a must. Start with the ones we've outlined here and keep adding new drills to your team's repertoire. Include a few different drills in each practice to keep players engaged. You can also teach simple drills that require minimal equipment (or none at all) so that players can practice on their own and grow into better soccer players. Additional Resources4 Simple Youth Soccer Passing Drills for Coaches How to Start a Travel Soccer Club 6 Benefits of Coaching Youth Sports How to Motivate a Youth Sports Team 5 Key Benefits of Youth Sports Participation |
How to defend in soccer for beginners
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