Soccer coaching tips for defenders

When you’re coaching your young defenders, emphasise that it is important to work on ball control skills and hacking the ball isn’t enough.

Key soccer coaching tips

• Set high standards for your defenders.
• They need good ball control skills and good passing skills to link up smoothly with the midfield, or the attack.
• Don’t accept a “hoof and hope” approach for situations where your players reasonably could, and should, have played a more measured and accurate pass.
• Explain to young defenders that possession is something to be treasured, not given away lightly.

What to say to your players:

• “Top defenders have a great touch - often with both feet.”
• “World-class defenders have great touch skills, technique, and pace to burn.”
• “In modern soccer, being a defender is no longer an excuse for not having silky soccer skills.”
• “Nine times out of ten, the ball should stick to your foot, not rebound just anywhere”

For soccer coaching tips to boost your defenders’ support role, click here.