Defensive Strategies
Fundamental keys to an effective soccer defense
You have likely heard it about football, but the same philosophy is true for soccer as well- offense scores points, but defense wins championships. Although they may not be the most glorified position players on the field, the defensemen are responsible for minimizing the opposing team’s shots on goal, and therefore serve as the foundation of an efficient team. If you are looking to establish yourself as a solid defensive player, here are some basic strategies to keep in mind during practice. Use these ideas to improve your personal skills and communicate with your teammates on how to work together to best achieve your common defensive goals.
· Position your defense according to each player’s personal strengths and weaknesses. If you have 3 defensive players on the back line, develop a strategy for how you each will respond to the opposing team’s offensive attack. A popular strategy is to establish a staggered line formation to meet the oncoming forwards. This usually occurs when the defenseman closest to the area of attack moves forward to meet the ball and the other 2 teammates fall in behind him or her. For example, if the offense is driving down the field towards the right-side defender, he or she will move up to intercept them while the middle and left defender drift over to form a staggered line behind the right defender. This will usually always force the offense to pass, offering a chance for you to intercept and take possession. However, this plan can backfire if the defensemen become too tightly grouped or move away from their coverage zone, so be conscious of the weaknesses in your defense.
· Another effective defensive strategy involves a team basing itself completely around its defense. These teams will intentionally play their defenders and midfielders back towards their own goal and keep the forwards near midfield. They will then allow the opposing team to penetrate into the defensive zone untouched before assaulting them with the defenders and midfielders at the same time. The defenders and midfielders can then take possession and make a long front pass out to the forwards and set up an offensive counter strike against a relatively empty backfield. This can be very dangerous for teams that are not defensively sound, so don’t be too hasty to try it out.
· The best way to establish a solid, skilled defense is to work hard on the fundamentals and basics of the game. It might sound boring and repetitive, but those are the tools that will build experience and get your team out of tough situations. Also, make sure that your defense is in constant communication. A vocal defense is an efficient defense. The goalkeeper should always be yelling to the defenders when he or she spots a weakness in the line or sees a flaw in the opposition’s attack. Work together and support one another to grow closer as a defense and a team, and eventually you will learn to operate as a single unit rather than separate players.