Soccer: the key to a good defensive line

For starters, you must decide the layout of the field
defense, midfield, forward
4, 3, 3
4, 4, 2
3, 3, 4,
3, 4, 3,

I've never met a team brave enough to go

2, 4, 4,

so as it stands you will have either
1. left, center front center, right
2. left, center, right
3. far left, left, right, far right

each set up is treated uniquely,

number on for instance leave 4 people on the back line a sweeper, stopper, and two outside defenders, the sweeper and stopper play apx, 15 feet away from each other the stopper directly in front of the sweeper. the stoppers job is to support the outside defenders, the outside defenders job is to slow the ball down as much as possible, keeping the opponent from making a run down the side and crossing the ball,

The stopper should be about 4 feet away on the goal side of the outer defender if the defender is challenging* someone on the line. The other outer defender should pull in to the far side of the penalty box's circle the stopper should go to the near side of the penalty boxes' circle this puts the defenders in optimal positions to gain control of a cross or block the player if they evade both defenders.

*challenging getting in between an oncoming playing and where their going attemption to make them lose possesion of the ball.

If the ball is coming up the center, the outer defenders should come in slightly to the outer edges of the penalty of box, until the opposing forward begins to approach the box, if the forward got past both the sweeper and the stopper the to outer defenders must come in, the midfields should at that point come back and cover the outsides, and the sweeper attempts to catch up runing to the goal, the stopper needs to cover stay 4 feet forward to pick up and attempted drop ball* or failed clears.

*drop ball passing the ball backwards to a playing behind you

the defenders should always be between the goal and the opposing teams forward, unless they are trying to accomplish an offsides trap* If a forward manages to bring it all the way down the line to go for a cross, the outer defender should be between them and the goal, the outer midfield should be watching a potential drop the stopper should be 3-4 feet closer to the goal, the sweeper 5-10 feet behind that, the center mid should cover the top of the circle, the other side mid should cover the opposite corner and the otherside defender should cover close to the back post. (at this point depending on how you are playing the middle and front line either the second center mid or the center forward should come back to part way in between the center line and the penalty box to control any ball that end up on the center).

*If you wish to put an opponent offsides you must pull all the defenders up to be even with the challenge.

On a corner kick, the outer defenders should come into guard the front and back post, the outer midfeilds should be on the outside of the penalty box, the stop and sweep should be directly in front of the goal, the center mid, should be at the top of the box.*

*dependant on position arrangement aka (3, 3, 4, -4, 3, 3,- ect)

the defenders should always clear up and out. dribble the ball to the line and clear up the line, Always attempt a controlled clear so it reaches your own teammates. if you can reach an open* teammate feel free not to clear, but even if your teammate is open in the middle inside the box, DO NOT pass it to them, if you are going to pass it to the middle make sure that they have enough time to control and pass off. the exception to this is, if you are faced the wrong direction and your teammate has enough time to clear the ball and they call for it, drop it to them, and they must kick it first touch.

as a rule you want to create depth with the defence have the person that is challenging the ball in front of everyone else, so if they get past them they have to make it through everyone else, for instance, if the ball is being challanged on the left, you want the left defender to be challenging the stopper to back them up 3-4 feet behind then the sweeper 10 ft behind and finally the right defender 10 feet behind that, they should all be spread out over the feild as well for instance in the order of challenge

forward
right
stopper
sweeper
Left

| goal |

This makes the forward break through four people, plus leaves them all to cut of the cross.
the left defender if in this position can cross the goal in time to challenge the forward once again before he makes it to the goal, at this point the midfield right mid should be crossing in front of the forward between the right defender and the sweeper to place themselves downline, the left mid, should come in behind the left defender and the center mid should place themselves even with the stopper but directly in front the the goal. so the order of challenge would be

forward
right def
right mid or stopper (dependent on whether the player goes downline or towards the goal)
center mid and/or sweeper (dependent on how close to the goal they are)
Left def.
left mid
| goal |

ok, that's all for now, enjoy :)

Leah

(maybe pics next time)