If there is one problem that besets junior / youth teams it is their inability to defend. Too many coaches simply don't seem to know how to coach it and don't coach this aspect of the game. It catches up with the players and team performance suffers.
This might help.
It's time to learn how to defend!
Surrounding an opposition attacker with most of your team is a pretty effective defensive tactic when your players are four, five or six years of age.
But as players get older, and a little wiser, it becomes less effective. A defender who used to win 95% of tackles by simply running at an attacker and taking the ball by force, suddenly finds the ball is being passed around them and into the back of the net.
If this is happening to your defenders, you need to explain that a little more subtlety is required. It's also time to show them that they need to work together if they are to stop the other team from scoring.
Before moving on to the nuts and bolts of team defending, let's demystify the jargon.
First defender - The player on your team who is nearest to the opposition player with the ball (the ball carrier).
Second defender - The player on your team who is next nearest to the ball carrier.
Third defender - This is a bit of a misnomer. The third defender isn't one player, but all of your players (apart from the first and second defender) who are between the ball carrier and your goal.
What does the first defender do
The first defender's job is not to get the ball, but to to hold the attacker up until help arrives. They do this by putting their body between the ball and their goal, stopping the opposition ball carrier from progressing. This player is a 'one person' wall.
Some tips for the first defender
- 'Stay on the balls of your feet so you can move quickly in any direction.'
- 'Look at the ball, not the player.'
- 'Only tackle if the ball carrier loses control of the ball.'
- 'Try to move the ball carrier away from the centre of the pitch and towards the touch lines. He can't score from there.'
What does the second defender do?
The second defender works closely with the first defender. They should be positioned roughly between the ball carrier and the goal, but in a position that allows them to see the ball. The job of the second defender is to take over from the first defender if the ball carrier gets past.
The second defender needs to loudly tell the first defender that they are in position. This allows the first defender to get closer to the ball carrier and apply more pressure, safe in the knowledge that his team mate will take over if he is beaten.
What does the third defender do?
The job of the rest of your team - the 'third defender' - is two-fold.
They need to cover the danger areas. The places on the pitch where attackers shoot and score. For example, you would usually have one third defender on the edge of the penalty area and another near the penalty spot.
Your third defenders also need to watch the opposition players and try to cut off the passing channels. To stop them from getting the ball.
Finally, all of your players need to practice defending, not just the defenders. Get your whole team to understand the importance of working together to stop the opposition attacks and you will have taken a big step towards 'proper soccer'.