The Defending Approach
1. Move quickly to the player with the ball
Sprint towards the player with the ball.
The faster you put pressure on the attacker, the faster he will have to make a decision.
High pressure often forces offensive mistakes. Offensive players have less time to look up and find a good pass and won’t be able to dribble as far up the field.
2. Slow Down Quickly
Novice defenders apply high pressure but are easy to beat. They rush to the ball so its easy for good players to cut away from them.
Make yourself harder to beat by slowing down a few feet from the player with the ball. Act like you’re sprinting hard towards a player but quickly slow you approach by taking small steps and decreasing your speed.
Determining the ideal time to slow down takes practice. When learning this skill you will slow down too close to the player with the ball (which allows the offensive player to beat you easily) or too far away (which doesn’t put adequate pressure on the attacker). As you practice defending at the correct distance will become a habit that you will do without thinking.
3. Defend at an angle
You want to make dribbling as hard as possible.
When you defend at a slight angle (with your body turned slightly to the side) you make it harder for the attacking player to move in both directions.
You can force him in the direction you want him to go and/or make him use his weak foot.
For example, you defend at a right angle, forcing the attacker to your left. The sideline is on your left so now the attacker doesn’t have much space to work with if he chooses to dribble.
Another example is you know that you have teammates nearby to your left. So you defend at a right angle, forcing the attacker to your left. Another teammate pressures the attacker and you make the tackle.
The Defensive Stance
1. Lower your center of gravity
Bend your knees lower your butt slightly. When you stay in this position you will move easier and have good balance.
2. Put your arms out
Put your arms out naturally to improve your balance.
Use your arms to brush the attacker’s arms away when they try to dribble past you.
Tackling in Soccer
Getting the defensive approach and stance right is essential. Master both and you won’t need to tackle as often since the attacker will pass the ball quickly. As a result, you won’t get beat as often.
Tackling isn’t an exact science. How and when you tackle depends on the situation.
In general, tackle the attacker when he makes a mistake. Tackle quickly when he makes a bad touch or touches the ball too closely to you.
When you play against good dribblers you have to tackle at the slightest mistake or hesitation. Always tackle when the attacker is off-balance. Otherwise, continue delaying the player. You will get beat most of the time when you tackle good players recklessly.
When a player turns his back to you always apply intense pressure. Defend both sides of the player. If you put too much pressure on one side, he can turn to the other side and beat you.
Tackling a player is similar to passing a soccer ball. Move your leg to the side to build momentum then move it forward in a passing motion.
Do not use your toe to poke the ball unless you’re sure you’ll win the tackle. Poking the ball is quicker than using proper tackling technique, but you will get beat badly if the attacker touches the ball away from you. Recovering from a missed toe tackle takes a long time and attackers can dodge the tackle easily. For these reasons, use the technique explained in the previous paragraph most of the time.
If you miss a tackle, immediately turn your body and sprint towards the attacker. If you recover quickly you have a good chance at catching up and tackling the attacker. If you defend well and recover quickly when beaten, attackers will be hesitant to dribble past you.
Fake a tackle occasionally. Act like you will tackle then pull back halfway through the tackle. Fake tackles put the attacker off balance and force mistakes.
When you decide to tackle, commit fully. Do not go in with any hesitation as this gives the attacker more time to cut the ball away. Tackle hard.
If the attacker moves to the side or turns, use your body to defend ruthlessly. Good defenders create fear in attackers by putting unrelenting pressure on them the second they make a move.
Tackling takes timing and balance. Learning to tackle effectively takes a lot of practice. You will learn what works best in different situations as you become more experienced.
Off the Ball Defending
Off the ball defending comes down to good things:
- Staying in a good position
- Staying with your man
Where you should position yourself depends on the soccer position you’re playing and the situation. In general, you’re in a good defensive position when you are in a valuable space on the field.
For instance, you’re in a good position when playing wingback if you have the sideline covered. Stay close enough to the sideline that you can sprint towards a through ball played down the sideline but far enough away from the sideline so that you can cover your man if he makes an inside run.
This sounds confusing, but it quickly becomes second nature when you play games at your preferred position.
Staying with your man is simple but isn’t easy. You have your man covered if you are close enough to intercept a pass or apply intense pressure when he receives a pass, and are far enough away to stick with him when he makes a run forward. Always stay closer to your goal than your man. This is called staying goalside.
Keep an eye on your man as much as possible (touch him with your arm if he’s close to you). You only need to let your guard down for a second to get beat.
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