One of the first foundations of tactical awareness you should teach your players is the concept of “time equals space.”
The more space you have in the field, the more time you will have to execute your fundamental skills. Restrict the space with defensive pressure, and you take away your opponent’s time to be dazzling with his/her skills.
That is, unless your opponent has learned to play against high defensive pressure. That’s a lesson for another day.
I like to illustrate my point with young players with two questions. First, “how many of you have a closet in your bedroom[show_disconnected][show_to accesslevel=’Subscriber’]?” Second, “if you are playing one-on-one soccer inside your house, would it be easier to play in the closet or in the entire bedroom?”
Most come up with the correct answer right away!
By restricting space, you have a much better chance of being defensively successful.
It is important that playing defense is both individual and collective. The first defender applies pressure to the ball, while the second defender, who is closest to the first, provides cover (support).
Important that the second defender is behind the first and a little to one side. He/she is covering space and cutting off an avenue of escape by the player with the ball, either by dribble or by pass.
Collectively, the third defender drops in at an angle behind the covering defender, and if that player is in position to cover, then the second defender can also provide pressure. Thus, two defenders pressuring the player with the ball.
Often that leaves the player with the ball with only one escape option. Backwards and away from the goal he/she is attacking.
Oh yes, and don’t forget that the touchlines are also defenders. Pressure from the first and second defenders pushing the player with the ball up against the sideline makes escape very difficult.
It has been said that playing good, pressuring defense isn’t a “skill.” It’s a decision. It’s hard work if your team chooses to play a high pressure defense, one of the first five principals of defense is “immediate chase.” Lose the ball, get it back as quickly as possible.
Lose the ball and everyone reacts from an attack mentality to a defensive awareness mode. Drop back behind the ball to pressure, to support and to cover.
If you do this you will put your opponent in the closet and you are likely to quickly regain possession of the ball in an organized transition to defensive pressure.
Win it back! You need the ball in order to score!
The more space you have in the field, the more time you will have to execute your fundamental skills. Restrict the space with defensive pressure, and you take away your opponent’s time to be dazzling with his/her skills.
That is, unless your opponent has learned to play against high defensive pressure. That’s a lesson for another day.
I like to illustrate my point with young players with two questions. First, “how many of you have a closet in your bedroom[show_disconnected][show_to accesslevel=’Subscriber’]?” Second, “if you are playing one-on-one soccer inside your house, would it be easier to play in the closet or in the entire bedroom?”
Most come up with the correct answer right away!
By restricting space, you have a much better chance of being defensively successful.
It is important that playing defense is both individual and collective. The first defender applies pressure to the ball, while the second defender, who is closest to the first, provides cover (support).
Important that the second defender is behind the first and a little to one side. He/she is covering space and cutting off an avenue of escape by the player with the ball, either by dribble or by pass.
Collectively, the third defender drops in at an angle behind the covering defender, and if that player is in position to cover, then the second defender can also provide pressure. Thus, two defenders pressuring the player with the ball.
Often that leaves the player with the ball with only one escape option. Backwards and away from the goal he/she is attacking.
Oh yes, and don’t forget that the touchlines are also defenders. Pressure from the first and second defenders pushing the player with the ball up against the sideline makes escape very difficult.
It has been said that playing good, pressuring defense isn’t a “skill.” It’s a decision. It’s hard work if your team chooses to play a high pressure defense, one of the first five principals of defense is “immediate chase.” Lose the ball, get it back as quickly as possible.
Lose the ball and everyone reacts from an attack mentality to a defensive awareness mode. Drop back behind the ball to pressure, to support and to cover.
If you do this you will put your opponent in the closet and you are likely to quickly regain possession of the ball in an organized transition to defensive pressure.
Win it back! You need the ball in order to score!
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