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By Santosh Kashyap Published on: Mon Apr 4, 2022
Wait for the opportune moment when you can move in for a strong tackle and win the ball. Remember to keep a check on your distance from the attacker as well as your body position – forward stance and ready to move in an instant. The defenders’ goal should be purely to win the ball and pass it forward to an attacker or midfielder.
Former Indian Footballer and Mahindra United player with over 36 years of experience, Santosh Kashyap is a FIFA and AFC Instructor. He has acquired an AFC Pro Diploma, the highest level of coaching accreditation issued by the Asian Football Confederation.
While the previous post covered the basics of defending play in football, it was more focused on individual technique and skill. Now you will be introduced to group defending exercises (2v2) that help you get performance-ready in a game situation. This is critical from the point of shoring up your defence capabilities in this sport.
We begin with 1v1 defending play practice. For this, the goalkeeper gets involved as well. The objective is simple – the attacker tries to dribble and score, while the defender tries to win or clear the ball. As a defender, you have to wait for the opportune moment when you can move in for a strong tackle and win the ball.
Remember to keep a check on your distance from the attacker as well as your body position – forward stance and ready to move in an instant. If the attacker at any point turns and shows his back to you, then move closer and tight mark him so he doesn’t get an opportunity to turn back. This is extremely important to avoid giving the attacker a chance at scoring a goal.
Next, we progress to 2v2 defending play practice, along with the goalkeeper. The defenders’ goal should be purely to win the ball and pass it forward to an attacker or midfielder in the same team. This group exercise helps build your coordination on the field which is key to emerging victorious in a team sport like football.
By working with a fellow defender to block or tight mark an attacker, you can close off his avenues for getting ahead with the ball and closer to the goal. Defending play is a fundamental skill that any football practice would seek to include, in order to build your ability to make split-second decisions that can make or break a game. Ensure you are alert at all times, on your toes and ready to engage the attacker to win back control of the ball.
This doesn’t conclude your training in defending play. In the next post you will encounter the skill of pressing an attacker to get possession of the ball. This is an active form of defence, rather than just blocking and waiting for the attacker to make a mistake or become distracted. Continue reading and learning how to master the sport of football.
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