Dryden Soccer Club
PO Box 277
Dryden, NY 13053

PRINCIPLES OF DEFENSE

- Delay: Force the attacking team to slow down to allow the defense to organize (primary role of first defender).

- Depth: Quick organization of the players behind the first defender (primary role of the second defender).

- Balance: Positioning of defenders to prevent penetration away from the ball.

ROLE OF FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD DEFENDERS

- First Defender: Apply pressure to player with ball (first attacker)

     deny penetration (delay/contain)

     select proper angle of challenge (push first attacker to one side)

     select proper speed of challenge (get there fast, arrive slow)

- Second Defender: Provide support for first defender

     select proper angle of support

     select proper distance of support

- Third Defender: Provide defensive balance

     track down runners away from the ball