Listen to any of the experts on TV previewing their sport's big games and there's always reference as to how "defense" is the key to success. Yes, you have to score goals, points or runs to win, but its keeping your opponents off the scoreboard that has become the order of the day if championships are to be won.
     At the youth level, its not always easy to convince players to play defense. There's always someone who revels in the role of stopping others from playing, but the real glory is seen in scoring goals and playing with the ball rather than without it.
     I like to refer to "defense" as the starting point of a team, in the same way that the foundation is the first step in building a house. Once you have your defense put together, you can look to construct the midfield and the offense.
     Even the Brazilians, for all their reputation for flair and creativity, always look to have their defensive house in order so that their ball players have a platform on which to perform.
     The whole process starts with the individual and his/her ability to defend. There's an old adage that defenders may allow the ball to get past them, or the player, but NEVER both. In its strictest sense this suggests that players should foul rather than get beaten, but I like to see it as a mindset in which defenders are focused on fulfilling their two main roles - winning the ball back and preventing the opposition from scoring.
     An individual's job is as follows:
1. deny the ball i.e. don't let your opponent gain possession,
2. if possession is gained, don't let your opponent turn towards your goal,
3. if the player does turn, apply pressure by a) slowing him/her down (delay/jockey), b) channeling (encouraging) him /her to go in one direction (i.e. to the outside, to his/her weaker foot, into danger/defensive support), c) tackling, (challenging) if the ball is there to be won.
     The art of defending 1 vs. 1 is very important and can certainly be honed during practice with emphasis on correct body position, speed and angle of approach, timing and so on. But defending must also be seen in relation to the bigger picture of group and/or team defense.
     Here the aim is to make the field as small as possible i.e. to restrict the time and space in which your opponents have to play. There are three basic principles of team defense - Pressure (as discussed as part of individual defending), Cover (defenders who can step in if the pressuring defender is beaten), and Balance (ensuring that the defense has both width and depth.
     These principles are sought either by means of zone defense, man-to-man marking, or a combination of both. Teams generally employ either three man defenses (two marking backs and a sweeper in a triangle), or four man back lines (either two full backs, stopper and sweeper in a diamond shape, or two center backs and two full backs in a flat configuration).
     Certain coaches and teams favor certain alignments based on the strengths and weaknesses of their own team and those of their opponents, and may make changes from game to game. Others stick rigidly to their preferred set-ups. What about your team? Take a look next time you play or watch a game as to how both teams line-up defensively. Its fascinating to see the different approaches, and to see how often the successful team is the one with the best defense.

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