FineSoccer Kids 53

Welcome to the FineSoccer Kids Newsletter.  Today’s subject deals with getting back defensively

If you have ever wondered what a college team does to prepare for their games you might want to check out the Full Season Training Sessions.  To learn more, please go to http://finesoccer.com/full_season.htm

When a defender is marking a player with the ball and that player passes the ball, there is a tendency to do one of two things.  Either the defender decides to chase the ball to wherever it was passed OR she stops playing and relaxes with the idea that her job is done.

Generally speaking, both of the above decisions are the wrong ones.  The reason players shouldn’t automatically chase after the ball is that the ball can travel much faster than the player so it turns into a useless chase PLUS it frequently results in the defender getting caught so far out of position that no only can’t she put pressure on the player with the ball but she also can’t help mark the player she just left.  There are a few occasions when following the pass defensively is the right decision and those are usually when the pass is an EXTREMELY short one and there is defensive support behind but this situation is much less frequent than defenders think.  The problem with the defender relaxing after her player passes the ball is that it allows the player she is marking to make a run to get behind her and at that point, she is beat (for example, a wall pass will beat this type of defender every time).

As a general rule, the proper thing to do when a player you are marking passes the ball is to get back quickly.  By doing this, it eliminates the chances for success of a wall pass plus allows the defender to provide support by becoming the second or third defender (for more on the role of the second defender, please go to http://finesoccer.com/soccer_edition_133.htm)

Getting back defensively after a pass is hit is an easy thing to do IF you remember to do it!  This is where communication becomes vital since players behind the defender (keeper, sweeper or other defenders) should be directing the defender what to do as much as possible.

To see an example of an activity that works on developing this habit, please go to http://finesoccer.com/finesoccer_drill_4.htm

Any questions, comments or suggestions should be sent to kidcomments@finesoccer.com or they can be posted to the FineSoccer Forum at http://finesoccer.net

To subscribe to any of the FineSoccer Newsletters, please go to http://finesoccer.com/subscrib.htm

Have a great day!

Lawrence