Soccer – Defense | Key Coaching Points For Defending:

We’ve polled coaches and here are the key coaching points they recommend when it comes to defending:

first defender must try to deny forward passes and delay the attack by marking the first attacker
first defender must always have a supporting second defender who covers the space behind him
1st and 2nd defender should squeeze the attack into the most crowded part of defense or towards touchline
covering defenders must pressure attacker on the ball by cutting off passing lanes
when the ball is on the flank, the outside defender on the opposite side must “tuck in” to cover the space behind the closest inside defender (compactness – concentration)
stay ball-side (to defend passes) and goal-side (to deny shots) as much as possible – outside defenders play closer to the center of the field and closer to the ball than their direct opponents
mark tighter the closer you get to your own goal
recover quickly to keep shape and maintain defensive balance on the field
support and communicate when necessary
delay attack quickly by reducing opponent’s space when team first loses possession of ball to allow defense to recover
most of the defending team shifts into the space in front of opponent’s point of attack as ball approaches goal (limiting space for shots on goal) and direct ball away from goal