The most under-appreciated soccer position [Defenders]

Most of the popular players are goal scorers or skillful players. You hear a lot about Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, Bale, Rooney. The only defender you hear much about now days is Sergio Ramos and he thinks he is a forward LOL.  So all the hype goes to the attacking players yes… But coaches love having good defenders because this is important to have a strong team. If you had the best defenders play against the best attacking players the defenders would win 4/5 times.

Defenders must know where to be

To get results in soccer/football you have to be able to defend well. If you have a team of Ronaldo and Neymar’s yes, you will score some goals but you will give up more because they can’t defend.  Knowing how to step and cover is vital for keeping your defensive shape.

Defenders can be the fastest players, but if they don’t know where to be it really doesn’t help.  Reading the game comes natural for some, but teaching and learning plays a big role.  

Good coaches stack their defense

If you have a team with a solid back line of defenders you will have a chance to win. Then all you need is a few attacking players and the rest all work as one. Be organized and work hard to get results. The media loves attackers, but coaches know they need defenders to have a chance.

Defenders are usually more aggressive or fast or can read the game well. But they don’t get the credit for scoring, preventing goals, beating the fast forwards on the other team, or for reading the game well and having to work from a defensive position of engagement.

However, defenders are field leaders. With good vision, they can direct the other players and open opportunities for scoring. Here are some simple rules to follow to be an excellent defender:

4 Rules Defenders should learn

Rule #1: Defend. Play smart every single minute on and off the ball. Play simple.

Rule #2: In the defending 3rd of the field stay tight on your marks [man], not giving an inch because that’s obviously where you get scored on. The defenders [specifically center backs] need to talk to the mids on where to step and cover. Don’t give up silly fouls in the 18 yard box or around it.

Rule #3: Defending in the Middle and Attacking third of the field watch out for the long ball over or through the last line of defense. Marking up you want to have 1 extra defender so that one is free, not marking, to be safe. At this point try to have one of the marking backs in front with the ‘free defender’ behind, this way you can keep the forward from getting the ball short or long.

Rule #4: Attacking as a defensive unit you want to push one of the 4 defenders up in the attack unless the other team is keeping 3 forwards up high, which usually doesn’t happen. At this time you have to be smart and keep your defensive unit in the right place to defend for when your team loses the ball.

Defenders who communicate well

Communication for a defender is very important. If a defense can learn to talk to his mids and forwards when the team is defending it can help keep the ball onto the opponent’s end and cause the mids to intercept passes and create counter attacks.

Learning to play outside back (Defender)

Left back is probably the most open available position condition-wise because there are just not many good ones, meaning at any level / age there is a good spot to gain a starting position. Speed and size are what coaches want besides smart defenders. If a defender has those 3 attributes plus receiving and passing skills they are set.

Younger players need to learn how to play all the positions. Nowadays most of the outside backs in American soccer grew up playing forward or midfield their whole life. Coaches want defenders who know how to defend but can also actually defend. Growing up as a youth coaches tend to put the big or fast kid in the back to prevent the other team from scoring. Some of these players never develop, and end up losing their starting spot. Usually to a player who is not as good at defending, but is so much better at controlling the ball.

Outside backs compared to center backs can have less defending skills and physical presence. The reason is because outside backs don’t have to battle for as many balls out of the air. Outside backs playing in an organized system just have to put pressure mainly. If you can put pressure, often times the attackers will lose the ball.

Being aggressive is the key and then knowing when to go in for a tackle. Playing smart, staying on your feet will usually result in good defense. Remember we are mostly talking about youth sports. Even the best U15 boys team is not that good at just keeping possession, knocking the ball around. Instead they end up losing it due to the high pressure, not great defending.

Defenders are appreciated

Goal scorers are always going to be appreciated more in the media. But the best defenders get paid a lot of money in the pro leagues, so that shows some appreciation from the right people. Defender is a position that is going to be natural from some at an early age. Most players can’t play every position. But just remember you might play forward or CM your whole life and all of sudden, coach puts you at outside back. Accept that challenge and role, because outside back is a position not many can play well. Coaches want a full squad of solid players. If putting a natural attacking player at outside back helps the team they will do it.