Soccer author and former professional player Wayne Harrison notes in “The Art of Defending” that defense is often overlooked because soccer training focuses on what players find more fun: attacking and scoring goals. Despite its lack of glamor, defense allows teams to prevent goals, win the ball and build toward a scoring chance.
Considerations
According to Harrison, defense begins with the player closest to the ball. A striker can be the first line of defense, and a striker who can defend and regain the ball allows a chance at scoring.
Concepts
Defense training involves imparting concepts so that players can make the correct decisions on their own in the course of play. Defense begins when an individual defender applies pressure to the opposing player with the ball, according to Harrison. The first defender can try to steer the attacking player into his support, a second defender. The third defender’s job is to provide cover if needed and balance on the field. Additional players “recover,” that is, switch from offense to defense, to take positions behind the ball, track other attacking players who don’t yet have the ball and occasionally apply a double team.
Features
Training can begin with the basics of one-on-one defending, where the defensive player closes down the space between herself and the attacker and attempts to gain possession or steer the player to either the sideline or a supporting defender. Proceed to small groups using one-third of the field. During scrimmages, freeze the moment, whistling play to stop and reviewing what went wrong by walking through the setup, then replaying the moment at match speed.
Types
Most soccer teams from the youth levels to the pros use zone marking rather than man to man. You can set up your players in a two-on-two drill using a half-field and have each defender responsible for a quarter of the field as his zone, communicating to his partner when he is passing on an attacking player.
Effects
Training points to emphasize to your defense include asking them to travel as fast as possible to the opponent, using a curved run to force the offensive players into a disadvantaged part of the field or to use their weakest foot. Players need to slow down the final few yards and watch the ball, not the player, so as not to bite on fakes. Defenders need to keep their feet; if the defender is faked or knocked to the ground, the attacker gains the initiative.
Expert Insight
Have defenders time their tackles when the attacking player is half-turned and not protecting the ball with her body, Harrison suggests. While forcing the attacker to pass indicates an effective defensive job, winning the ball and maintaining possession allows your team to turn defense into attack.
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