Defending in Soccer (eBook)

TECHNICAL DEFENDING

It’s cliché to state that the weakest link in any chain limits the strength of that unit when referring to team defending. As simple as the notion is, it’s also true. Particularly at the higher levels of the game, teams will scout and identify the opponent’s least-able defenders and then try to orient their attacks to expose that player. It is, therefore, critical that, even at the youth levels, coaches work to strengthen individual players’ defending abilities as part of improving teamlevel defending.

Technical defending is a term encompassing all the basic elements required for individual players to defend. Footwork and tackling, as well as defensive heading are the most common elements associated with technical defending. Refining these skills as well as the decision making entailed in using these elements should be a standard ingredient in any defending session.

DEFENDING FOOTWORK: LINE EXERCISE

This is a good exercise to highlight the importance of clean, explosive footwork for defenders involving movement forward and back. Players often need to check their approach to the ball or an opponent based on the development of the situation, and it is often necessary to back off quickly without losing defending posture and balance and then be able to push forward again very quickly.

The active player runs to the first cone and does footwork around the cone before proceeding to the second cone, where she repeats the circle footwork. Then she runs to the tall cone and gets set to defend (set her feet, showing the ball to her left). Next, she backs off to the other tall cone before sprinting to the ball at the top of the setup. Finally, the players jog back along the side of the exercise to the start point. The next player starts when the player in front has reached the first tall cone. Players should alternate the direction of their circular footwork with each new trip through the exercise.

DEFENDING FOOTWORK: JOCKEY ZIG-ZAG (1)

English coaching legend Dick Bate often quoted long-time Italian national team captain Paolo Maldini as stating, “If I had to tackle, I had already made a mistake.” The point was that Maldini believed that footwork was the key component to defending. Jockeying, which is using short chop steps, to control an attacker is a skill that has to be taught and refined in all field players and particularly back-line players. Jockeying allows the defender to maintain a focus on the ball and sustain a goal-side orientation to the attacker until the defender finds the right moment to tackle.

This introductory exercise creates a low-pressure environment for players to work on jockeying under the observation of the coach. The defender passes the ball to the attacker and then closes down, running forward to meet the attacker. The attacker waits for the defender to arrive and then begins to dribble through the zig-zag cone pattern. The defender cannot tackle but practices jockeying, focusing on the ball, and using chop steps to stay goal side.

DEFENDING FOOTWORK: JOCKEY ZIG-ZAG (2)

This diagram shows the progression of the exercise. The attacker has made the first turn, and the defender continues to give ground to maintain a goal-side position. Encourage the attacker to change speeds and even directions within the zig-zag, forcing the defender to adjust. When the pair reach the last cone, they switch lines, and the next pair restarts the exercise.

As defending players become more comfortable and cleaner with their footwork, the coach can progress the exercise by allowing the defenders to tackle near the final cone and/or let the attackers freestyle dribble and permit the defenders to tackle.

DEFENDING FOOTWORK: JOCKEY ZIG-ZAG (3)

The final drill in this series highlights the importance of the defender changing her footwork to stay with and ultimately guide the attacker. When the attacker changes direction at the cone, the defender changes her footwork (her lead foot and orientation) to remain open to the attacker’s dribble and to be in a good position to tackle. Defenders must become adept at seamlessly changing their footwork to maintain a good position as the attackers become more adept at changing speed and direction, as well as penetrating.

DEFENDING FOOTWORK: LINE JOCKEY

Player A dribbles straight ahead, while player B jockeys, maintaining proper distance and emphasizing clean footwork and focus on the ball. When A nears the far cone, she passes to player C and then moves to jockey player C’s dribble back to her own line. No tackling is allowed at this stage. This is a very good warm-up exercise to help players both get some touches on the ball and also do some defending footwork, perhaps in preparation for a 1v1 exercise.

DEFENDING FOOTWORK: LINE JOCKEY AND TACKLE

In this progression of the previous exercise, the defender (B) jockeys and then moves to block tackle the attacker (A). Both players trap the ball between their feet, and then the defender backs off and continues jockeying the attacker’s dribble until the latter passes to player C and the exercise continues.

Once again, this is a great warm-up exercise, adding the opportunity to mix in a block tackle for both active players. The fact that the defender must recover after tackling and continue tracking the attacker is an added positive reinforcement.

Another variation here is to have the defender fake tackle. In this instance, player B would jockey and then take a sharp step forward to disrupt the attacker’s dribble and planning. The defender must understand that faking the tackle when too close to the attacker can result in the attacker getting in behind, so she has to maintain a bit of extra space and then recover quickly.

DEFENDING FOOTWORK: CONES

Two players practice closing down at cones, moving with cues from the coach. Each player has six cones, in three colors. Emphasize quality movement over speed, but encourage players to move at speed between shut down moments. Check the movements and final positions of the players as they work. Most players will take a few reps to learn to move cleanly, and then they will tire after about 15 seconds of intensive work.

Commands:

•“Red!”—a color call instructs the player to close down the color in the line the defenders face.

•“Turn!”—leads the defender to turn around and shut down the same color in the other line on their end of the area.

•“Switch!”—the players exchange cone work areas (i.e., the player in the bottom cone group moves to the top group and vice versa).

•“Next!”—means that the players sprint out of the grid and the next defender comes in to the area.

DEFENDING FOOTWORK: PRIORITIES (1)—DENY BALL

Defending players should be taught to view every individual defending situation as a set of descending priorities. There are four decisions within this context, and the first preference is to deny the ball. If possible, the defender should always try to intercept a pass to the player they are marking.

In this scenario, player A passes toward his teammate, player B. Player C, the defender, practices stepping in front of player B and intercepts the pass. Player C then passes the ball to the next player in the serving line and play continues. At this stage, players A and B are playing at 50 percent of full effort, ensuring that player C is getting the opportunity to win the ball each time.

Defenders focus on establishing a strong physical position (get a shoulder-ahead) and then controlling the run of the attacker using their arms (make oneself wide) to keep the attacker at bay. A variation here is to have the servers toss balls in the air for the defender to win.

DEFENDING FOOTWORK: PRIORITIES (2A)—DENY TURN

If the defending player is unable to win the ball outright, his next priority is to deny the turn. The diagram shows the new, staggered start positions of players B and C, which will allow the attacker (B) to get to the ball first.

In this situation, the defender still has some advantages as the attacker is not particularly dangerous on the ball if he is facing away from the goal.

DEFENDING FOOTWORK: PRIORITIES (2B)—DENY TURN

To deny the turn to the attacker, the defender (B), gets “touch-close” to the attacker.

At this stage, once again, players A and B are working to help player C achieve success. Thus, player B does not try to turn, but rather dribbles slowly to either circled area where the simulation ends and the ball is returned to the serving line. Be certain to rotate roles.

DEFENDING FOOTWORK: PRIORITIES (3A)—DENY PENETRATION

If the defender cannot deny the ball or the turn to the attacker, his next priority is to deny penetration. In this scenario, the starting position of the defender (C) is moved to a more disadvantageous position, allowing the pass from A to B to create time for B to face up with the goal before the defender (C) arrives.

DEFENDING FOOTWORK: PRIORITIES (3B)—DENY PENETRATION

Given that the defender cannot deny the ball or the turn, he closes down and forces the attacker to dribble...