21 Principles OF DEFENSE
Transition Defense
#1 High Pressure High Pressure Sprint to defend Sprint to defend All over the field All over the field No more than 3 passes No more than 3 passes
#2 Dropping Dropping Early Re-treating (no breakaways) Early Re-treating (no breakaways) Take away the SPACE BEHIND Take away the SPACE BEHIND Defend the break-out Defend the break-out
#3 Recovery runs Recovery runs Sprint BACK inside the D3RD Sprint BACK inside the D3RD Immediate Reset upfront Immediate Reset upfront
#4 Scrums Scrums Win the BALL Win the BALL Win the 2 nd ball Win the 2 nd ball Anticipate the random moment Anticipate the random moment
#5 Stepping Stepping Sprint out after every clear Sprint out after every clear Close M3rd space & ball win Close M3rd space & ball win Lock them back into their half Lock them back into their half
Final 3rd Defense
#6 Rotating Rotating The Next Defender(s) The Next Defender(s) Leave your man & tackle Leave your man & tackle Expect her to get beat Expect her to get beat
#7 Double Team Double Team Double TEAM Double TEAM Central players slide over to double Central players slide over to double Double DOWN Double DOWN Flank players come back to double Flank players come back to double
#8 Pressing Pressing 1 st & 2 nd EIGHTEEN 36yds 1 st & 2 nd EIGHTEEN 36yds Close-out & Never allow a shot Close-out & Never allow a shot
#9 Defending The 18 Defending The 18 Never let it bounce (HEAD) Never let it bounce (HEAD) Composure, back up, 1 st time Composure, back up, 1 st time
#10 Sliding Sliding After ball is switched in the D3rd After ball is switched in the D3rd 2 nd cross is most dangerous 2 nd cross is most dangerous
#11 Clearing Clearing High, Wide & FAR High, Wide & FAR Find the front & step Find the front & step
Midfield 3rd Defense
#12 Diagonal Diagonal Defensive Cover lines Defensive Cover lines Never FLAT, Always DEEP Never FLAT, Always DEEP
#13 Screening Screening Deny the STAGING UPFRONT Deny the STAGING UPFRONT Midfield intercepting these passes Midfield intercepting these passes Midfield doubling down these passes Midfield doubling down these passes
#14 Marking Marking We mark a MAN (player in our zone) We mark a MAN (player in our zone) We mark a ZONE (space on the field) We mark a ZONE (space on the field) We mark a SPACE (passing lane) We mark a SPACE (passing lane)
#15 Forcing direction Forcing direction Defend in UPFRONT Defend in UPFRONT Defend out on SIDELINES Defend out on SIDELINES Defend left CENTRALLY Defend left CENTRALLY
#16 Positioning Positioning Goal side (Mark in ADVANCED) Goal side (Mark in ADVANCED) Ball side (Inside PINCHED) Ball side (Inside PINCHED) Player Side (Inside Shoulder) Player Side (Inside Shoulder)
#17 Necessary fouling Necessary fouling Break rhythm & momentum Break rhythm & momentum Send a message Send a message
#18 Compaction Compaction Defend 2/3 of the field Defend 2/3 of the field Short, Tight & Pinched Short, Tight & Pinched
#19 Confrontation Lines Confrontation Lines 4 combative lines of defense 4 combative lines of defense Forward, Midfield, Defensive, GK Forward, Midfield, Defensive, GK
Set Play Defense
#21 Trapping pockets Trapping pockets Defending THROW-INS Defending THROW-INS Your MAN is BEHIND you! Your MAN is BEHIND you!
#20 Fading/Framing Fading/Framing BEFORE every high ball into the 18 BEFORE every high ball into the 18 AFTER every shot on goal AFTER every shot on goal