Your team is at the opponent’s goal and is about to score a goal. A lot of players commit because the situation looks promising. Suddenly, their goalie grabs the ball and launches the ball down field. Uh oh…it is a counter attack. You begin to backtrack and realize that you and your other defender are the only two players back while they attack with 3…and here comes the 4th. What do you do?
Clearing the ball in the defensive end is not enough. When you clear the ball you have to have purpose. This is especially true when clearing the ball from corner kicks. Many players make the mistake of clearing the ball up the middle of the field…we all know where those clearances usually end up: right back into your net. Here are 3 tips to make sure you effectively clear the ball every time.
Every off-season should be used to work on your weaknesses. Ask your coach and feelow teammates for feedback as to what areas of your game you need to improve. You may already have an idea which areas they are.
Many soccer players feel they cannot take a shot until they have either completely faked-out a defender, or until they have come the door-step of the net. What’s important to remember is that the more shots you take in a game, the higher the potential for a goal is to be scored. However, it is important to take educated shots.
An e-mail came in from one of our readers asking if we could explain why…
Receiving the ball at your feet as a defender, midfielder or forward yield different scenarios and expectations from each position. Nonetheless, one basic rule should always be practiced by every player on the field: never stop the ball directly in front of you – push it slightly in one direction.
Leadership isn’t about following others. It is about leading by example. It’s about taking the bull by the horns, so to speak. Every leader has a different way of leading. This blog will discuss the different forms of leadership, who should lead and why.
As our game changes, so must our tactics and thus our formations. The more we study the game the more we realize that there are ways to manipulate formations in order to create a means of either attack or defense. Even more detailed, you can tailor your team to play up the wings, down the middle, long balls over the top and etc.
There is a time for everything. In the same frame of mind, timing is everything.
The slide tackle is one of those elements of the game that has to be used to perfection. The success of a slide tackle is based on three factors:
- Technique
- Timing
- Implementation
As the different formations used in soccer have been manipulated and re-created, much of the responsibilities of each position have remained the same – for the most part. This holds especially true for the central defender.
The central defender is always the last line of defense (aside from the goalie) and is always the foundation of a successful team – the brain of a proper functioning system.
Here are 5 tips to becoming a successful central defender: