Week 2 Practice - defense

Tonight we welcomed a new player to the Sharks. We're happy to have Cameron on the team!

We worked on defensive principles tonight. In general we have the potential to be a very good defensive team. The formation that we play and where we place our players means that from time to time we can be vulnerable to quick counter-attacks where we will only have one defender back. This means that our players need to be confident that they can stop the offense even if they are on their own. These defensive principles apply everywhere on the field - any time the other team gets the ball we are playing defense!

There are three concepts that we worked on tonight that will help us in getting defensive stops: Cover, Contain, Challenge.

Cover

When the other team is on offense, especially when they have free kicks or throw-ins, those defenders who are not on the ball are to cover other opposing players. When covering, we want to be between the opposing player and our goal. We can challenge the ball when it comes, but if you are between the other player and the goal even if they get the ball you will be in a good position to defend them.

Contain

As long as we have a defender between the offense and our goal, they cannot take shots or score. Containing is just maintaining a good defensive position, in between the offensive player and the goal. As they move you move with them until you have an opportunity to challenge the ball. If you are the last defender back you can contain the offensive attack until help arrives from your teammates.

Challenge

Whenever we have a to make a play on the ball, either to take it away from an opposing player or to win a free ball, we want to attack it fearlessly. You have to be careful in timing your challenge, especially if you are the last defender, so you do not get beat. Once you commit to the challenge don't be afraid of the other players - be aggressive and run right through the ball. Always play to make contact with the ball not with other players; be strong but don't get called for pushing or other fouls.

Our goal on defense is to challenge the ball as far forward on the field as we can. That is why we push our defenders up near or beyond midfield when we are on offense. First, we can stop their offense before they even get started. Second, if the opposing player does get past us we have lots of time to catch up to them and get back in a good defensive position.