Defense Wins Championships
Individual defending is a top priority in your quest to develop a winning culture.
When you boil it down, individual defending breakdowns are the sole reason for goals against your team.
You must be vigilant to explore all options to improve your team defense. It’s that simple.
Teach your players how to control the game and stifle their opponent with the 3 P’s.
1. Body “Position”
Knees bent to create a lower center of gravity. This allows the defender to react quicker and change speeds. Small shuffle steps will help to remain in front of the attacker. Staggered feet; one foot in front of the other. Angled body. Invite (force) the attacker to their weaker foot when possible.
One step better, if the defender is in a good position before their mark receives the ball, ideally they can step into the passing lane to steal the ball before the attacker can gain control. This requires defenders to be savvy at “reading the game,” having good awareness of game cues, scanning, and recognition of opponent tendencies.
2. Under “Pressure”
3. “Patience” Goes a Long Way
Bonus: Eyes on the Prize
There is good reason why poker players wear sun glasses. They don’t want to reveal too much information. In soccer, as the defender keeps their eye on the ball, they can also sneak a look at the attackers eyes, to collect more information about their decision making process. Defenders may want to get tighter pressure, shift to cover a passing lane or drop off to support if they see a clue about the attackers decision making process.
Double Bonus: Force the Issue
Very confident defenders can force the attacker to “take the bait” with a lunge or jab step. Smart defenders can pretend to step in to win a tackle by stepping toward the attacker then using a drop step. This can unbalance the attacker and force a poor touch so the defender can seal off the attacker to win possession or steal the ball and transition into attack.
