Blitz '97 Red
Achievements
2009/2010
2009 Blitz United Under Armour Fall Invitational
Champions
2008/2009
Gold Division
Finalists
2007/2008
OK President's Cup
2008
Champions
Champions Challenge 2008
3rd Place
Blitz Fall Invitational 2007
Semi-finalists
BASC Labor Day 2007
Semi-finalists
Beat the Heat 2007
Semi-finalists
Defensive Principles -
1st Defender: Pressure
The defender's primary job is to deny penetration. The defender does
this by preventing the attacker from either passing forward, dribbling
toward the goal or shooting. This is achieved through pressure and
positioning. It's not enough to know what to do, if you aren't in position
to do it.
Priorities for a pressuring defender
- Intercept balls passed to the attacker. If the defender
can cut off a pass before the individual duel occurs, they've
significantly decreased the offensive threat. The defender must
be positioned goal-side of the attacker so they can see the ball
and their attacker. This way, they're able to see where and how
high the ball is being passed.
- Tackle the ball as the attacker makes their turn. If
interception failed or wasn't possible, a good option is to tackle
the ball before a confrontation with the offensive player.
- Force the attacker to screen the ball with their first
touch. Don't allow the attacker an opportunity to turn with the
ball and face the goal. A negative first touch means they are
moving away from the defender and the goal while screening the
ball from the defender.
- Tackle the attacker halfway through their turn as they
attempt to face the defender. A good defender senses when the
attacker has committed to turning and is prepared to win the
ball when the attacker exposes it.
This is impossible to do unless the defender is within tackling
range. As the attacker is shielding the ball and attempting to
turn, the defender must keep two things in mind:
- Never lean on the attacker. Good attackers
use this over-commitment to their advantage by
spinning and playing the ball into the space
left open by the defender.
- Never lose sight of the ball.
- Steer the attacker into the least dangerous space. Once the
offensive player has turned, channel them into an area where they
will do the least damage or into a supporting defender. Often,
this will be the sideline.
The defender now attempts to set a trap. Here, the speed of
the approach is crucial. If the defender tries to close down an
attacker's space too quickly, the offensive player can play the
ball quickly behind the defender, using the defender's speed
and aggressiveness to their advantage. If done too slowly,
the attacker is given ample time to gain the advantage.
- Recovery runs. If the defender is beaten, a recovery run
toward the near post is the fastest way to get goal-side of
the attacker. The object is to get in good defending position,
between the goal and the ball, as quickly as possible.
Summary
The individual defender is concerned with two things; whether
or not to make contact with the ball, and how and where to
position oneself.
The first priority of the defender should be to prohibit the
ball from reaching the attacker or stopping the attacker from
turning goal-side with the ball. If that fails, the defender
should contain the offensive player and force them to give
up the ball away from the goal or risk being tackled as they
turn. Final strategies include maneuvering the attacker into
a less dangerous space or getting into position to deflect the
attacker's shot or pass.
The defender's role in stopping forward movement by the offense
is not limited to overpowering the attacker. They must work to
rush, pressure and confuse the attacker, thus causing them to
make mistakes. Taking advantage of your opponent's errors makes
it easier for you to win the ball and deny penetration toward
your goal. A solid defense is a crucial part of a successful
soccer team.
Jeff Pill is currently the women's national staff
coach for U.S. Soccer, serving Region One. He was the
assistant coach with the U19 Women's National Team for
2004 Youth World Cup preparations. He has had his national
"A" license since 1994 and has coached various levels
of soccer, from youth teams to college. Read more of Pill's
Drills at his eteamz site.
For more soccer news, tips and tools, visit eteamz, your
online team sports community.
By Coach Jeff Pill