Q&A for How to Be a Good Soccer Defender

Read the body language of the other players, like watching the direction of their hips to see where they're taking the ball. To be a good soccer defender, you have to be able to read the game. You have to anticipate where the ball is going and what strategies the other teams are playing, but at the same time, you also have to be focused on 1v1 defense.

The best defenders know how to read the game. That means reading the plays made by the other team, knowing where the ball is going to be played next, and understanding the strategies the other team is playing. To do that, try to read the body language and cues of the other team.

Practice. Continually get back in the drills and practice your skills to help build your confidence.

Depending on the formation your coach has you in - you may be man-to-man or zone marking. Either of these can allow for switching marks with good communication.

Make them work up the sideline. You always want to eliminate the center of the field from an attacker. Forcing them towards the sideline allows you to use the edge to help contain them.

A slide tackle on rough ground will leave a mark, but if you wear sliding shorts underneath your uniform, it will help limit the pain.

Run to position yourself between your opponent and the goal.

Just go for it as you would on any other surface. A good tip (which I use) is to rub petroleum jelly (Vaseline) on any exposed skin, so that you don't get burns. This also works on turf and any kind of grass.

Absolutely! You should always be physical and use your body. As long as you make contact with the ball when taking a attacker out, no fouls will be called.

Stand facing forward with your back to goal and your body half turned, so you can put a tackle in but also be ready to chase the player if they get past you.

For sliding tackles, tackle in the front (if you do in the back, this means a red card). Keep your your eyes peeled on the ball.

You will probably end up "pushing" people more than an offender would, but make sure you aren't being too rough, because you may get a penalty.

Defenders should stay in position on their team's half of the field. If the ball passes midfield into the defender's zone, the defender needs to be ready to stop the other team's players from moving down the field to score.

He has to be confident with the ball, but there's no need for stepovers, etc., at defense.

I jog every morning, listening to my favorite songs. After that, I take a small sprint. Do that for 2-3 weeks, it helps! Don't forget to stretch first!

Not, but most defenders are physically strong. The two things a good defender truly needs are speed and the ability to steal the ball.

It depends on what abilities the defender carries. You can be an extra front-man/woman as a defender and build up play from behind. If you want to become a striker, don't go straight for it. Instead, first try at central positions like an attacking midfielder or central midfielder, as this can help. If you're strong but don't have the pace, don't go for attacking; instead, try to orchestrate the midfield from the middle.

By tackling at the right time and being aggressive for the ball, not the player.

Some of the best CB are not very fast. If you're fast, then that's a big help. But if you're not so fast, you can work on your positioning, and your timing of tackles. Make sure you can react to quick shifts of direction.

Find out how long one stride with your dominant foot is. When the attacker has the ball in front of you, stay that distance away from the attacker. If they make a bad touch, or you have a good area to steal the ball, then take it.

Headers from set pieces, free kicks within 40 yards. If you are a good long shot/free kick taker, long shots.

Chest trap it if at all possible. You never want to lose sight of the ball.

With good timing. As the game goes on, you'll start to notice patterns in the way the other team plays. Use your timing and the patterns you notice to either intercept or tackle the ball away.

That is a hard situation to be in and if you are the last man that means you can not commit or rush in to dispossess one of the attackers as they have the option to pass. The best thing to do is stand facing sideways and block the passing option to one of the attackers and you can slowly go back and if you still see the attacker going to pass then rush in and take the other off the ball.

Yes, goalies normally play for 1 - 2 quarters of the game, so they need another position to play when they're out.

Continue to follow him through and jockey, then time your tackle, and never give up.

Get on them as quickly as possible and try to nudge them in the direction you want them to move. Sometimes you can move them away from the goal or push the ball away from their dominant foot.

In practice always think and do so you can get the experience there, and you can also read and watch defenders like Sergio Ramos, David Luiz, and a lot of others to see what they do in matches and when you're in a match it will be second nature.

When a striker is running toward you, stay in front of them and shuffle backwards. Always have your body angled, and if they are fast, sometimes you need to give them more space than other players.

Pay attention to your goal keeper because they usually set up the line or the wall. You can be part of the wall or the sweeper that stands close to the keeper.