3 Soccer Drills to Become a Better Defender

Becoming a better soccer player and defender starts with the proper training. Follow along with IMG Academy soccer coach, Mel Mahler, and several student-athletes as they guide you through three soccer drills that will help you become a better defender. Your soccer training drills will cover: - Press & Cue - Closing Speed - Defensive Positioning



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[KidsAndCardsAndSoccer]

Don't throw stones. I'm a U10 rec coach. Defense gets very little attention and coaches know very little. At this age and at this level so much is determined by speed, aggression and a little bit of ball control. The video is great. Thanks for posting!

[brettlowden]

This is a great video...all about closing down the space and trying to force mistakes

[louiecruz]

Defense seldom gets taught at the younger age groups. This is a great breakdown of how to properly defend.

[SebInTheGame]

I used this to coach my team today. Thank you very good for 9yr old boys to teach them not to overcommit and play more smart 👍

[Sparrow]

I’m about to send this to the Varsity head coach I work for! And Implement it with my jv!

[brotherhow]

I use this drill at u11 - it works. I read the other comments knocking this - they make sense too. Soccer in US is just not set up with the emphasis on passing, positioning, intercepting. Other Countries/clubs have methods, systems, no pay to play. US soccer doesn’t have that, or is just developing.. so US has to teach individual tackling.

[vsubhuti]

Thanks perfect defensive coaching. People underestimate defenders

[nileshvaheesan]

Does img offer international students soccer camps?

[Thatcowgirl]

Thank you I have a game tonight it's my first year playing soccer hoping to do well tonight this is the best most helpful video yet

[miguelhoyos]

What body weight on the front footwork?

[fico]

1'44". It is the position to wait for the player, it is too passive, no to recover the ball. All depends if the opposit player is faster than me, if not, I do not need it and must change other position in order to get the ball

[neXtro-vsco]

How can I learn not to be to aggresive and to control my body when I try to steal the ball so I dont foul

[sananjrsananjr]

Can I play in this acedamy a pro football

[JonezBBQ]

Nice video. Maybe my team of rejects could benefit from these drills

[alfiend]

Am I the only one who notices that he keeps calling the player with the ball the defender? 1:42 "Reach out & touch the defender." 2:44 "The key to defending is to slow the defender down."

[fico]

When return the girl to her initial position, she never put back to the other player, she always watch the player

[fico]

4'05" The girl in black need to protect the ball and the body position with the left arm, never the arm down!

[mrgbyoutubing]

We need good players demonstrating these drills.

[junkwon]

I feel like this is good for principles but this will never help a good player become a great player.

[juliosantiago]

I have been a soccer coach for a long time. I currently coach a U18 premier team div 4. I'm not sure exactly what this teaches. A player could never reach the age of the players on the video not knowing all of this stuff. Sorry.