3 Soccer Drills to Become a Better Defender

Mental and physical preparation is the key to playing good defense in soccer. Defenders set the pace of play and force the offense to act, so every small decision made on defense impacts the outcome of the match. In IMG Academy’s How-To Become a Better Defender drills video, you’ll hear directly from an IMG Academy coach and learn how to prepare yourself both mentally and physically to protect the ball and close down on the opponent.

What You’ll Learn

In this video, IMG Academy soccer coach Mel Mahler introduces three important principles for becoming a better defender. Watch how student-athletes perform each of these three drills and learn to focus on pace and positioning to play smart but aggressive defense:

• Pressing Cues
• Closing Speed
• Defensive Positioning

The key to defending is slowing the attacker down and making plays less predictable. It’s not always about winning the ball. Keep your body under control and focus on your positioning - know when to accelerate or decelerate and properly manage your body weight in relation to the ball. You also want to focus on reading the pass, trying to win the ball with your upper body, and welcoming the individual battles that occur throughout the game.

Watch the Video

Ready to take control and change the course of the game? Press play below to get started!

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