Defender Tactics

In every team, the spot of weakness is in defense area. So coaches are suggested to cover the existing gap. Usually back players are careless if there’s an attack of opponent. So, back player must improve concentration, and can adjust the distance between ball and opponent’s player. The back player that play in middle area called center back (CB), in the left called left back (LB) and in the right called right back (RB). In this part, it will be explained about the function and how they should play.

Center Back (CB)

While playing CB is helped by Defender Midfield Forward (DMF), the middle player that tends to play in defender area. The function of CB is as fence in the defender area. The things that are needed to be a CB are: must have strong body, can press the opponent, sprint that can be as equal as opponent. Usually there are 2 CB, so they can collaborate between the others.

Left Back (LB) and Right Back (RB)

These positions play in left and right wing. Their function is very important too. Especially, when the other players lost the ball in their self wing defender, LB and RB can keep wing defender’s position that’s usually vulnerable by opponent.

How Back Player Should Play

To keep goalpost safe, back player must play decently. At first, they should know how to face with opponent.

- If back player faces with opponent, try to not struggle the ball hurriedly, but make opponent so they meet difficulty to struggle the ball. When we face with opponent, we should move backward slowly and notice the ball.

Cut the tempt

A back player must can cut tempt well, especially if his goalpost is in danger. There are tips about cutting tempt well:

- Player mustn’t hesitate. Back player must always focus with the ball and see the other players around him.

- If ball success to be struggled, drive the ball to the safer area, try quickly to kick away the ball from defender area and don’t try to pass the opponent’s player if there’s in their self defender area.

- Now, if the ball rolls on to safer area and this ball is rather difficult to be reached, use tackling to stop the ball. Don’t hesitate to do it.

- To keep opponent: If there’s a vis-à-vis, between striker and back player, don’t struggle the ball hurriedly. Try to keep and press opponent. Back player always must press the opponent and block the opponent’s movement space. Player must stay between the opponent that he press and his self goalpost.

- Obstacle opponent: Obstacle is very needed by back player to delay opponent’s attack. Obstacle is a tactic to turn back the opponent. Try to always turn the opponent back and struggle slowly from back side. Wait until your teammate come to help.

Tactic to Win in Upper Ball Struggling

In this part will be explained about how to defend your goalpost in upper ball struggling. There are ways:

1. Player must use opponent’s shoulder so his jump higher. If there’s a ball, back player immediately jump behind the opponent while hold on opponent’s shoulder. There’s great chance to win struggling the ball by back player. This tactic is much needed while there’s a corner kick.

2. When opponent’s corner kick happens. This way also needs bravery. If there’s a ball which bounces up to defender area, there must be a back player that is behind the ball, and in the right time, he immediately moves forward and then heads or kicks away the ball to the front while threw himself. Remember, to do this tactic, player must be careful so he doesn’t crash with opponent’s player.

Tips: To head the ball so your head doesn’t feel pain, don’t use your top head, but with your front head. If you use the wrong tactic, the ball instead will bounce backward and make advantage for opponent. Ball that you head always must bounce forward and contrary to your self goalpost.

> Don’t close your eyes while head the ball. Always notice the ball and precise the ball direction in which you’ll direct.

> To make heading more powerful and can save your goalpost, player must jump forward and move your hands backward to help moving the neck and heading the ball forward. This tactic also can be used by striker.

Heading Training

- Player 1 throws the ball highly to player 2 and player 2 heads the ball forward, repeat this training 5-6 times. After that take turn with other players.

- Player 1 is in front of player 2. Player 1 is as passive player. Player 3 throws the ball to player 2, and then player 2 heads the ball with helping of player 1’s shoulder.

- To make the heading more powerful and can be used to defend, practice heading with the wall continuously.

Tips to be a Back Player

- Do clean tackling. Tacking must be done at the ball exactly and must have exact timing, too. While do tackling, the foot always must be in the ground, don’t go up into the air so your tackling doesn’t touch the opponent’s foot. Danger tackling can result yellow card or even red card.

- While press the opponent in very critical position like in the penalty area, keep the hand behind so handball doesn’t happen.

- Focus in more than one player. Back player must focus not just at one player; it can be two so back player can block the movement space of opponent. Always notice the ball direction, don’t lose your concentration. To press the opponent even two players, keep the distance between you and opponents. Don’t be hurriedly.

- Collaborate with keeper. It’s very important so misunderstanding between back player and keeper doesn’t happen.

> While do 1-2 crossing, back player always must be in front of his self goalpost and in different position with keeper. If keeper is in right side, back player must be in left side and vice versa.

> While there’s an attack in the defender area, don’t obstacle keeper’s sight. Try to press opponent in different side.

The well back player can collaborate well with keeper and the other teammates.