Soccer is a game of skill, endurance, and speed. The players must be skilled in their game, should possess good stamina, and must have great speed to achieve a goal. Every player on the field must possess these qualities to win the game.
Soccer requires teamwork and the players take up key positions as a game strategy. One of the important positions in the game is the Defense. A defender protects the ball from reaching the goal before the keeper and supports other players.
So, we shall understand how to be a better defender in the game and the importance of defense in soccer with this article.
How to be a better soccer defender?
To be a better defender, you must have an aggressive mentality with the physical strength to tackle attacking opponents. Also, you should be skilled in taking the ball from the dribbler tactically and passing it on to the forward players. Defender should also increase their skills in one-on-one defense and be skilled at reading the game better than others. We shall explain these points in detail so that you can look into them during your next soccer practice session.
Aggressive Mentality
Defense is an important position on the soccer field. You cannot let a single goal be scored by your opponents because it can be the turning point in the game. Therefore, a defender must be determined to tackle the attacker and defend the goalpost before the keeper.
Since the keeper can only predict where the ball will be coming into the goal post, the chance of saving it becomes very less. But if the defender pressurizes the attacker, it will be difficult for him to aim perfectly and easier for the keeper to judge the ball.
Mentally the defender must make up his mind to protect their goal at any cost and must have a strong offensive pose. You should try to suffocate your opponent as much as possible and let them lose their authority over the goal.
Be Reactive and Adaptive
You cannot be stagnant in the game at any time. Even if the ball is on the other side, you have to be vigilant and find ways to improve the strategy. So, a defender must always be reactive. Especially when the attacker comes toward the goal, he should be highly reactive in tackling and taking possession of the ball. He should be keen on distracting the ball away from the goalpost and never give them a chance to get a clear view of the goal.
Always try to take the ball away from the areas where a goal can be easily scored. You can also try passing the ball to the other side of the field with a long pass and distract it to the midfield. There are chances that your opponent might be weak in certain positions and footwork. Use it to your advantage and take hold of the ball.
As for adaptiveness, you must always be ready to adapt to a new strategy when the game is going otherwise. When you don’t have any attackers on your side, try to assess the game and think of weak points on the opponent’s side to attack them well.
Up your skill
A tactical approach with skill is an important ability for a defender. You must be able to defend against any attacker and you must be skillful enough to take the ball away from them. Try to improve your sliding tackle and heading because you might have to remove the ball from the attacker’s dribble and shots aimed toward the goal. If you look at famous defenders like Giorgio Chiellini, they risk injury and defend the goal at any cost using sliding tackles.
Therefore, it is a must for defenders to be skillful in dribbling, tackling, passing, controlling, and even shooting too.
Train yourself in all defending positions
As a defender, you can be placed at positions like Center back, Full back, Wing back, Sweeper, and Midfield (Defense). When you practice your defense drills and practice match, try to play in all these positions and improve your game. This will help you to become a versatile player and enable the team to place you in any position. It also improves coordination with your other defenders and other players.
Is it difficult to be the best defender in soccer?
Nothing is difficult if you train for it with determination and perseverance. It is definite that every position in the game of soccer is difficult. But you have to aim to be the best defender and achieve it.
Playing defense can be intense and you have to be more tactical in your every move. More than any other player, it is your responsibility to change the game when there is a chance.
There can be many instances where the opponent can show weakness. As a defender, you must take note of it and use it strategically against the opponent.
You may think that soccer is a game of physical strength and skill. But it requires sheer mental strength and the ability to think faster will make you the best defender.
In many instances, you will be presented with critical situations where the possibility of scoring is higher for the opponent. During such critical times, it is the defender who deflects the ball to their own advantage and changes the face of the game entirely.
So, it is difficult to be the best defender but it is never impossible. Strive hard and train more to achieve it.
How important is a defender in a soccer game?
A defender is a key player who protects the goal and decreases the chance of scoring for the opponent team.
Only the defender has more probability of saving the ball from the goal than a goalkeeper. The success rate of a keeper depends on the defender’s ability to confuse the opponent and tackle them effectively.
Without a defender, you cannot prevent the attacker’s offense. They try their best to suffocate the opponent and deviate their course from the goal.
Therefore, defense is one of the key positions in a soccer game without which a team cannot succeed.
Conclusion
A lot of games have defense players. But soccer defense is one tough job that requires critical multitasking with physical strength. So, you can also become the best defender if you have the skill, strength, and determination to save the goal and change the game.