How to Be a Good Center Defender in Soccer

By Shenglei Luan
English 202C
Spring 2014








Introduction
Being the most popular sport in the world, soccer values a part of it that has been neglected for
a while now: defending. As a fact that has been developed and confirmed so many times in
recent years shows us, the title winner is mostly always the team that concedes the least goals.
Therefore, the role of defenders is being highlighted in modern soccer. This phenomenon
reached its peak when Fabio Cannavaro, the center back captain of the World Cup winning
team, was awarded as FIFA world player of the year in 2006. The most recent soccer empire
developed by Barcelona is famous for its Tika-Taka style is now falling apart because their lack
of good defenders. Liverpool, who is the leading team in goals in the Premier League, is losing
its #1 position due to their defenders poor performance. As a result, remaining to be the silent
crowd, soccer defenders, just as important as the rest of the team, are key players in a game.

Figure 1 Cannavaro celebrating as Italy wins the 2006 World Cup

This document will lay out the different phases in general from the writers experience as a
soccer center back as one grows from a newbie to a good defender whose one crucial
interception can change the entire game. The target readers are those who love the game of
soccer, but are not going to play on a professional level.

Why should I choose to be a defender in soccer?
Different positions in soccer may require different types and levels of physical fitness. For
example, if you are strong and tall, the best position for you is a center back; if stamina and
agility are your advantages, you can probably be an excellent full back. Despite of all these
requirements, starting your career as a defender gives you a better vision of the entire pitch:
you can see everyones movement except for your goalkeeper. This can be an important
contribution for ones understanding of the entire match.

Different Phases of growing into a good defender
Phase 1: Exercise often-Go to the gyms to build your muscles!
This is the very first thing to start with if you decide to participate in the beautiful game,
especially as a center defender. During a game, you will need to strive to get multiple headers
for the sake of clearance. In order to win those aerials, you need to be strong enough to hold
your position against the opposing forward with body contact. Therefore, the first habit you
need to establish is to become a regular muscle builder.

Figure 2: No.15 (Sergio Ramos, Spain) winning a header with body contact
Phase 2: Watch soccer matches online or on TV to observe professional defenders
One of the fastest ways to learn is to imitate the pros. We like to apply for high-ranking colleges
because we want to learn from the best professors and colleagues. Same rules apply here. If
you want to improve fast, learn from the world-class players. As you watch a game, pay close
attention to the center backs on both sides (you can even pay full attention to them), observe
the following: how they choose their standing position, their movement, their choice of
handling the ball in different situations (settle or clear), timing of pressuring the opposing
attackers, etc. The more games you watch, the better you will understand the way they defend.
Eventually, you will begin to understand and even start to predict how a game flows. In this
phase, your view is probably like what is shown in figure 2.

Figure 3: soccer tactics
Phase 3: Get on the pitchplay some pick-up games
While the quickest way to learn may be watching how the pros do it, the best way is always to
kick the ball yourself. As a center back, start playing deep on your own half, passing the balls to
either your left or right side (whichever that has less pressure), and making decisions as your
opponents attack. At first, you may think that being a defender is not that hard: just pass on
the ball and wait for my teammates to score, its easy! However, things change when your
opponents high pressure cause you to lose possession and thus concede a goal. Soon you will
realize that when it comes to you, its not as easy as it seems on the screen. But wait, it is not
the time to get upset. Every time your fail, you have the opportunity of changing the failure into
a lesson. As you get more lessons, your experience grows as well, and experience is a vital part
for center backsthis is why most center backs become world-class player in their late 20s.
Therefore, let us continue to the next phase.

Figure 4: A random pick-up game with sunshine

Phase 4: Join a team and play in your local league
Playing in a more competitive level increases your abilities surprisingly. If soccer is not just a
hobby to you, it is a good idea to join one of your local teams and play on another level where
players take the games a bit more seriously. Another advantage in doing this is that you can get
personal instructions from the coach. He or she may see right through youwhat are your
strengths and weaknesses, and what you need in order to make improvement. Ask the coach in
person to pay a bit more attention on you, he/shed be happy to do so. In addition, learn about
basic soccer tactics and formations will facilitate your understanding of your role and the whole
team. After all, in soccer, teamwork is the key.


Figure 5: A team from a Sunday League

Phase 5: Practice on your ownrepetition is the best way to master something
Here we are talking about something even the superstars do on a daily basisbasic controls of
the ball. After looking into the big picture, its time to enhance our basic skills: receiving,
passing and shooting. Ask a teammate to practice with you because both of you will benefit a
lot from your repetition of the basic skills that you need in every touch of the ball. Search from
youtube for training sessions for two, and select the one that you both need improvement on,
and start your personal training session. In addition, you can also develop a better sense with
the ball by practicing ball juggling. After you are skilled with it, you may even try some
freestyles (street soccer)! After all, playing soccer is all about having fun.

Figure 6: Partnership


Conclusion
Rome was not built in a day. Becoming a good player is a time-consuming process that requires
a lot of commitment. I believe that in going through the different phases listed above, one can
experience overall process of growthnot only in soccer, but also in life. A defenders role in
soccer is somewhat similar to the trombones in an orchestra: you hardly even notice them
when its not their part to play; however, when their part comes, its always the most
astonishing one.











References
1. Spains qualification in 15 pictures
http://www.sefutbol.com/en/spains-qualification-15-pictures

2. Defending from the front
http://www.professionalsoccercoaching.com/4-3-3-standard/defending-from-the-front-4-
3-3

3. National Soccer Coaches Association of America: Section 4--Basic skills:receiving,
passing and shooting
http://www.nscaa.com/education/resources/fundamentals/basic-skills-receiving-passing-
shooting

4. http://blog.beeinplay.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Unknown.jpeg

5. http://alpinetwp.blogspot.com/2010/05/soccer-match.html

6. https://www.flickr.com/photos/mariusb/4869387011/

7. Cristiano Ronaldo workout exercises and routines
http://www.ronaldo7.net/extra/training/cristiano-ronaldo-training.html

8. First XI: World Cup Defenders
http://www.espnfc.com/world-cup/columns/story?id=770526&cc=5901&ver=us