What is the principle of defender in football?
This is an arrangement you put in place that helps to get defenders behind the ball in a good defensive shape to help prevent penetration from the attacking team.
The principles of defense are:
Delay
Compactness
Depth
Balance
Control/Restraint
Pressure
Cover
Delay : this way of delaying an opponent’s attack buys time, disrupts their rhythm, and allows teammates to recover. Don’t just tackle straight. Use jokes to delay.
Compactness : ensures that the defensive unit stays tight and denies space to the attacking team. By limiting passing lanes and forcing the opposition to play wide, away from goal-scoring areas.
Coaching Point : Tell your defenders to maintain close distances between themselves and their teammates to closely packed together.
Depth : this is an arrangement put in place to ensure defenders cover behind the player pressing the ball, preventing attackers from easily breaking through the defensive line.
Coaching point : Train your defenders to position themselves with depth, so when one player steps out to pressure the ball, another player provides cover.
Balance: An important element of balance is positioning. A player must position himself in other ways to know the right places to block passes, intercept the ball, and prevent shots on goal.
Coach point :always tell your defenders to focus on the ball and read the players.
Control & Restraint: this is the habit of preventing the attacker from turning as well as controlling the play and not diving in.
Coaching point : tell your defenders to be tightly close to the opponent i:e close mark.
Pressure : It’s a skill put in place in areas of the pitch – to win the ball back, dictate play, or delay the opposition.
Coaching point : tell them when they apply pressure on the player or the team that’s in possession focus on the pass lane.
Cover : this method requires three steps.
VQ- forces the attacker to look down and protect the ball. “PRESS DON’T DIVE’.
2) The second defender covers three things: the ball, the man and space.
3) Teamwork Defending: Work together to force your opponents into an error.
Coaching point : tell your defenders to stay calm when approaching the ball and to place themselves appropriately in relation to their teammates, the opposition, and the ball.
All these principles depend on the style you intend to use.
Remember. Your defending shape must be zonal.
Anticipation : this is the ability to imagine what is going to happen and quickly react to the ball.