Football Training Aids For Defenders

Once you enroll in soccer training, you must first learn the basic characteristics of good defending, even if you want to be a striker or midfielder. The main aim is to make sure that the rival team will not gain control of the ball.

However, a defense strategy does not only involve keeping possession of the ball from the other team, but also getting full control over the ball itself and using it properly. To fully understand the defense strategy of your team, check out the following qualities that every successful defender needs to have.

The first attribute of a successful defender is that he maintains a strong focus on the ball throughout the whole of the game. By always knowing where the ball is, and determining the appropriate technique and time to take control of the ball, a good defender will make the defense much stronger and harder to break down.

Take note that it is important to be always one step ahead of the opposing team, so you must identify the tactical strategies that they are using as soon as you can. Most teams tend to play to their strengths and play in a similar formation every game, usually only making their formation more defensive when they play away.

Secondly, an outstanding defender is used to dealing with different soccer skills and techniques. If you know a lot of plays and strategies, then you will be able to defend against tricky players more successfully. Take time to learn various dribbling and passing methods, since your main objective is to ensure that your rivals will not have possession of the ball, know their tricks because most players are one trick ponies, once you know their particular “trick” you can defend against them a lot better.

A successful defender performs numerous drills during soccer training. The drills are performed both as an individual and as a group because you will have the chance to train your body for different situations and learn the basic defensive strategies. Many coaches employ techniques such as tying a long piece of string to the back four and drilling them so they work as a unit, and making them step up as a unit at the right time to catch the other team offside.

If you have some experience and have already mastered the basic necessary drills and defending techniques, you will notice improvement in your training and matchplay, and your ability to read the game and make a challenge before there is any real danger.

As I mentioned before, every player is a defender, the strikers and midfield should be closing down the opposing team long before they reach the 18 yard box, although many teams will only close down once the other team crosses the half way line to conserve energy.

Good strikers like Didier Drogba of Chelsea are also great defenders, and are used to marking the opposing team on corners and set-plays, if you watch the top class strikers they also help out the defense by slowing down the other teams keeper when he is trying to get a fast break going, or they close down the defenders to try and force an error.

You can do many other things in order to be a successful defender, just make sure you follow your coaches instructions and learn to work as a team with your fellow players, and especially your defensive unit. Constantly talk to each other and listen to your keeper's instructions, especially when setting up a wall or defending a corner.

Always see to it that you are mentally and physically prepared for every game. Living a healthy lifestyle plays a vital role in developing your mind and body for the soccer field. Eat healthy foods such as raw foods and drink plenty of water every day, watch how the big teams defend and never stop learning.