Defenders objective is NOT to win the ball unless it is “easy and no risk”, instead we are looking for them to:
- Drive the attacker off the pitch
- Force an error by the attacker
- Protect their feet (Especially if in the D)
Learn when to do what – jab, delay, block, use their body to assist
Defensive principles
- Delay
- Stop their go forward – be aggressive
- Be in the way – Be big
- Force a decision benefiting you
- Attack fast and step back – force them to stop and worry
- Deny
- Close down their passing channels
- Slow them down
- Shepherd them
- Dictate/Direct
- Run at angles to direct them
- Use your body and stick to dictate
- Disrupt
- Jab, worry, prevent – be in the way BUT DO NOT GET ELIMINATED
- Get their head down
- Dispossess
- Get down and do a block tackle