| Students try out in college soccer recruiting for a | | | | instances, however, the first defender or the second |
| spot in college soccer teams. Soccer is a sport played | | | | defender may rush out to put pressure on the |
| between two teams consisting of eleven players, | | | | opposing player with the ball. In some cases, |
| and is thought by many to be the most popular | | | | moreover, some opponents might temporarily need |
| sport in the world. It is played on a rectangular field | | | | to be marked; like those moving into dangerous |
| of grass or turf, with a goal set up at the opposite | | | | space, for instance. The principle man-to-man theory |
| ends. The object of the game is to bring the ball into | | | | translated to almost all opponents being marked at all |
| the opposing goal. | | | | times. In practice, however, defenses tend to be a |
| In soccer zone defense, the second and third | | | | mix of zone defense and a man-to-man defense. |
| defenders and midfielders are positioned in two lines, | | | | The number of players in the defender and midfielder |
| making a defender line and a midfielder line, with the | | | | lines depends on the number of football formations. |
| midfielder line serving as a shield for the defenders. | | | | Some would utilize midfield anchors to prevent any |
| Players should make sure that the lines stay as | | | | attacks between the two lines. Attackers would |
| straight as possible, as a straight line of defenders | | | | often put pressure on defenders as well, in order to |
| may help prevent spaces at the back. In some | | | | give them less time to find good passing alternatives. |