Most people know what the general idea of soccer is; to surprise many, it is far more complex than it appears. Some experienced players and coaches compare soccer to a game of chess. In this life sized, fast pace game of “chess” there are also many different “pieces” or positions. The defensive position in soccer is key to have a successful team.

On the field, a team of players, excluding the goalkeeper, is typically split up into three general positions: offenders, midfielders, and defenders. The defensive line of players on a field can be split down into even farther into specific positions. In most cases, there are two defensive positions played which are the center backs and full backs. According to wikipedia, “Centre backs are usually in pairs, with two full backs to their left and right, but can come in threes with no fullbacks.” The arrangement of the players varies from team to team but these are the most common set ups of defenders. 

Now that the different defensive positions have been established, the main focus will be on their roles on the field. Fullbacks are the outermost players whose job is to help the center backs and stop the opposing team from advancing down the sides of the field. Generally, the fullbacks do not have as much pressure on them as the centre backs, so it is crucial for them to keep the ball away from the last line of defense. Some other jobs of the fullbacks include throw-ins and through balls. Centre backs are the defenders directly before the keeper. The vague job of the centre backs is to keep the opposing team from getting shots on the goal and potentially scoring. Jeff Pill from active.com states that “Some strategies include maneuvering the attacker into a less dangerous space or getting into a position that deflects the attacker’s shots or passes.”. Centre backs are anticipated to send the ball up the field and clear it away from the defensive section of the field.

Teamwork amongst the defenders is necessary to have a successful team. The designated positions help with teamwork but players also need to know how to act in the different scenarios that happen. Defenders are usually taught “pressure, cover, balance”; this means one of the defenders puts pressure onto the opposing offender, while another covers their position, and while the other players in the backline balance out the field not allowing any shots on goal. This method protects the goal while pushing the field up towards the offenders. One important component of soccer is the offsides trap, which deals directly with the defenders. The offsides trap is a way the defensive line can stop the offenders from passing them without any physical contact.

Although teamwork is key to having a good defense, the individual player skills’ are also a major factor. Knowing when to attack, when to cover for others, when to send the ball up, etc., are all examples of plays that the defensive line needs to know how to carry.