What makes a defender good in soccer

Defenders should tell midfielders and other defenders who to mark. Your first choice on where to kick it should be on the field, then out for a throw in the farther away from your goal the better , then out for a corner.

Set the tempo early by refusing to let a player beat you. If they do, sprint as hard as you can to catch up and use your body to steal the ball or stop their dribble. Prepare for the possibility of a defender or midfielder on your team getting beat. Be ready to pounce on the player if your teammate gets beat. Recognize these players and delay them delaying is covered in our article on defending , even when a tackle looks easy.

Good dribblers can evade your tackle and get past you before you know what hit you. You need to force them to pass or they will destroy your defense. Wingback can move up the field to cross the ball. A good winger will cover you play as a wingback when you make a run upfield. Try overlapping or running down the sideline when your winger has the ball. Really happy to hear the content is helping you. Keep up the good work! Hi Ernie — I play a lot of defense as well. One trick I use that works really well is to force the attacker to make his move first.

Since I force the move, I no longer need to guess when it will come. All you need to do is fake like your going in for the tackle, but pull back. If he makes a move, you should be able to step with him and take the ball away. The key is to not worry about making mistakes. Guys are going to beat by you and defenses are going to have goals scored against them.

Just go out there like a lion and do your best. The points made here are great but there is not much talk on when a winger beats your full back and try to stop a dangerous cross. Hey, If you were a defender and your losing the game what is a good way to cheer your defenders, and the rest of the team on as well? That will get them to push back and work there hardest? As simple as this seems, it really energizes the team. Just tell them not to give up.

Telling them to keep their heads up is so important. Tell them to give it all they have and be aggressive. Helps a lot. I am the star defender, or was, we were playing a match the other team scored and the captain Kian subbed my off.

Five minutes later i get back on, I do my job block goals,put the opponent under pressure exc. The game ends the opponent wins, everyone is mad at me. I tried telling the that but everyone avoided me.

Hi im a 19 year old centre back over in Australia. Im a 6 foot guy who weighs 78kg, i want to lose a little bit of weight to keep the speed but also gain muscle, are there any tips or workout timetables I can do or get to get to the peak of what I can athletically look like and do on the pitch? Not sure if any of this makes sense, just looking for a help in hand. I am planning on playing at the college level and attempting to go professional level. Are there any tips for a diet and drills for a defender?

Think about areas where you could improve…Develop those areas. Go out there, practice, play, and enjoy yourself. Is there any tips to keeping a defensive line in shape and formation? Hi Josh — It starts with communication from the keeper.

Do I want to be an easy target for opposing players? Do I want to give the opposition a chance? If these do not spur you on to action, then I do not know what will. As already mentioned, the game has evolved in the last few decades, which sees the ball being played out from the back. This means there is extra pressure on defenders to make play, rather than simply tackling and clearing the ball. A good defender will be comfortable technically, able to take a few touches and then pass the ball to another teammate.

And not simple passes either. The best defenders can set up attacking play with cross-field passes and incisive passes through the pitch. As well as this, a good defender is good with his head.

He should have a good leap and able to challenge for most aerial duels, and to clear any danger out of the air. Defenders can also offer more presence in attacking set pieces such as free kicks and corners, so being able to score with your head is an invaluable trait to any team. A great example of a defender is Sergio Ramos, captain of Real Madrid. Whilst he can pick out passes with an almost laser focus, he also poses a real threat going forwards as he had a great ability to score with his head.

The fact he is also able to remain calm with the ball at the feet put his teammates at ease. Despite being a defender, he spends a lot of time with the ball, getting involved in forward play and assisting as well as scoring. Get more involved in up-field play and get used to having the ball more at your feet.

Over time, you will get more comfortable, and simply getting rid of the ball as soon as you can will not be your first impulse. Instead, you can look up, try to spot a run or find space, and move your team forwards into a more dangerous area.

Again, this is a massive misconception of being a good defender. Naturally, most defenders are taller, however height alone means nothing if you cannot control the ball or use your instincts to defend. Remember, the modern game has changed, and the skills required for a defender are a lot more all-rounded rather than purely physical. The example we looked at, Fabio Cannavaro, who was also 5ft7 is solid proof that you do not need to be the tallest to excel as a defender.

Simply work harder on the rest of your game and you will be head and shoulders above your competition pun intended! Having these exact characteristics will definitely help you and your defending abilities, and you will find that almost all top-level defenders have at least 3 or 4 of these nailed down to perfection.

This means able to tackle and clear, good passing, vision, great communication and some aggressiveness. Gone are the days where you need to be a complete psychopath who will maraud anyone in his way! Pick one or two of the attributes listed in this article and try to hone in on them. After a while you will feel more comfortable in your position, and other players will utilize you as they know you are confident on the ball.

A defender actually has quite a versatile role. As well as the traditional center-backs, there are also the full-backs and wing-backs who are known for their tricky and direct forward play. If you are not someone who wants to stay back most of the time, yet have a knack for defending, then consider one of these wide positions.

If playing in the traditional formation, the fullback will have a lot more of the ball as they directly connect with both the defense and midfield. It will also provide opportunities to express yourself with the ball in an attacking sense.

In this article we have discussed some of the characteristics that make a defender good at his role, which include aggressiveness, communication and passing abilities. By using some modern day and past soccer players, we can better see how these traits have been used, and how you can start to utilize them in your own game.

Finally, we have answered some of your most frequent questions to do with defending. Hopefully you will now have some more ideas on how to up your own game. Facebook-f Twitter Instagram. By James Cunningham Updated April 25, Skill 1 - Tactical Awareness.

This improves your balance and helps you block more space. When you're off the ball, scan the field so you know where all the players are and can anticipate opportunities the other team may try to take advantage of.

Defend both sides of a player. When you're on the ball, stay square with the player you're defending rather than moving to one side or the other. If you only defend one side of the player, you give them an out to get around you or pass the ball.

Focus on delaying them as long as possible until help arrives. Take advantage of mistakes. A bad touch or a misstep creates an opportunity for you as a defender. If you're defending a strong player, you have to be alert for the slightest mistake.

Put the player you're defending under pressure to increase the likelihood that they get flustered and fumble. You may only have a second to act to make a big difference in the game. Study your opponents. Most soccer players have signature moves and patterns that can tell you when they're gearing up for a shot or a breakaway. If you research opposing teams and watch previous games, you'll be better able to anticipate their behavior.

When you're watching previous games, also look out for defensive techniques that have caused particular opponents problems. You can add those techniques to your own repertoire when you play against them. Communicate effectively to your teammates. As a defender, you have the ability to see the whole field and know where all the players are.

You can let your teammates know when pressure is headed their way and when someone is open. Be loud and keep the other defenders alert and on their toes. If another defender is on the ball, give them as much information as you can about the situation around them so they can focus on the ball. For example, you might say "I got drop" if you're supporting another defender and are in position for them to attempt a tackle.

If you're playing on a team that you don't have much experience with, you need to communicate more so you know what they like and what they want to do. Err on the side of more information, not less. If that player was familiar with your style of play, they might already know how you like your passes. Tackle only when you can clear the ball. Tackling is one of the most dangerous parts of soccer, not only because you could get injured — you also risk fouling the other player.

Keep this powerful defensive technique in reserve unless you are percent sure you can regain possession of the ball for your team. Head the ball safely. The defensive header can be an important tool for a defender and can get your team out of a tight spot. Proper technique allows you to head the ball safely and effectively, with little risk of concussion or other injury. If you hit the top of the ball, it will go down to the ground. Hit the underside of the ball, and it will go up. Many beginning players have the tendency to close their eyes as the ball approaches, mainly out of fear or anticipation of the ball hurting as it hits their head.

Practice keeping your eyes open the whole time. Heading drills will help you get rid of that anticipation and lose the fear of heading the ball. Method 2. Adapt your training to your position. Different defensive positions require different conditioning to respond well to the demands that will be placed on their bodies during the game.

If you are a center back, focus on strength and stability. If you are an outside back, do speed and mobility drills to compete with wingers. You can also add a day that focuses on speed and power, by incorporating high-intensity interval training. In season, reduce the volume of your training to reflect the time you're spending on the field.

For example, if your workouts were 2 hours long in the off-season, reduce them to 1 hour in season. You may only want 1 or 2 strength days in season. Combine distance running with sprints. Distance running improves your cardiovascular endurance, which is necessary if you're spending 90 minutes on the pitch in any given game.

But you also need to be able to come up with short bursts of speed to keep up with fast forwards, midfielders, and wingers. For example, you might jog for 10 minutes, then sprint for 2 minutes, then walk for 3 minutes. Repeat the interval until you've run for an hour. Strengthen your core to improve your balance. Working your core isn't just about having a six-pack like your favorite professional soccer player. A strong core improves your balance and makes it tougher for attacking players to push past you and make a break for the goal.

Start by holding the plank position for 30 seconds to a minute. Every few days, add a minute, working up to a 5-minute duration. Look for other core exercises that isolate various abdominal muscles. Make sure you're exercising all abdominal muscles evenly. Practices such as yoga and pilates can also help strengthen your core and improve your balance and flexibility.

Use plyometrics to build power and strength.