| Once you enroll in soccer training, you must first learn | | | | as an individual and as a group because you will have |
| the basic characteristics of good defending, even if | | | | the chance to train your body for different situations |
| you want to be a striker or midfielder. The main aim | | | | and learn the basic defensive strategies. Many |
| is to make sure that the rival team will not gain | | | | coaches employ techniques such as tying a long piece |
| control of the ball. | | | | of string to the back four and drilling them so they |
| However, a defense strategy does not only involve | | | | work as a unit, and making them step up as a unit at |
| keeping possession of the ball from the other team, | | | | the right time to catch the other team offside. |
| but also getting full control over the ball itself and | | | | If you have some experience and have already |
| using it properly. To fully understand the defense | | | | mastered the basic necessary drills and defending |
| strategy of your team, check out the following | | | | techniques, you will notice improvement in your |
| qualities that every successful defender needs to | | | | training and matchplay, and your ability to read the |
| have. | | | | game and make a challenge before there is any real |
| The first attribute of a successful defender is that he | | | | danger. |
| maintains a strong focus on the ball throughout the | | | | As I mentioned before, every player is a defender, |
| whole of the game. By always knowing where the | | | | the strikers and midfield should be closing down the |
| ball is, and determining the appropriate technique and | | | | opposing team long before they reach the 18 yard |
| time to take control of the ball, a good defender will | | | | box, although many teams will only close down once |
| make the defense much stronger and harder to | | | | the other team crosses the half way line to |
| break down. | | | | conserve energy. |
| Take note that it is important to be always one step | | | | Good strikers like Didier Drogba of Chelsea are also |
| ahead of the opposing team, so you must identify | | | | great defenders, and are used to marking the |
| the tactical strategies that they are using as soon as | | | | opposing team on corners and set-plays, if you |
| you can. Most teams tend to play to their strengths | | | | watch the top class strikers they also help out the |
| and play in a similar formation every game, usually | | | | defense by slowing down the other teams keeper |
| only making their formation more defensive when | | | | when he is trying to get a fast break going, or they |
| they play away. | | | | close down the defenders to try and force an error. |
| Secondly, an outstanding defender is used to dealing | | | | You can do many other things in order to be a |
| with different soccer skills and techniques. If you | | | | successful defender, just make sure you follow your |
| know a lot of plays and strategies, then you will be | | | | coaches instructions and learn to work as a team |
| able to defend against tricky players more | | | | with your fellow players, and especially your |
| successfully. Take time to learn various dribbling and | | | | defensive unit. Constantly talk to each other and |
| passing methods, since your main objective is to | | | | listen to your keeper's instructions, especially when |
| ensure that your rivals will not have possession of | | | | setting up a wall or defending a corner. |
| the ball, know their tricks because most players are | | | | Always see to it that you are mentally and physically |
| one trick ponies, once you know their particular | | | | prepared for every game. Living a healthy lifestyle |
| “trick” you can defend against them a lot | | | | plays a vital role in developing your mind and body |
| better. | | | | for the soccer field. Eat healthy foods such as raw |
| A successful defender performs numerous drills | | | | foods and drink plenty of water every day, watch |
| during soccer training. The drills are performed both | | | | how the big teams defend and never stop learning. |