DEFENSE                

1. Intercept balls passed to the attacker. If the defender can intercept a pass before the individual duel even occurs, obvious victory is obtained. The defender must be positioned goal-side of the attacker so that they can see the ball and their attacker, so that they can see the ball coming.
   
   
2. Tackle the ball off of the attacker's first touch. This still wins it before the confrontations gets started, but is second to interception.
   
   
3. Force the attacker to screen the ball after their first touch (if it's a good one).  Don't allow the attacker to turn and face the defender. Make the first touch be negative (away from the defender).
   
   
4. Tackle as the attacker is half way through their turn as the attacker attempts to face the defender. A good defender senses when the attacker has committed to turning and will then confidently win the ball the instant it comes into view. This is impossible to do unless the defender is within tackling range. Usually, a great deal of work must be done on behalf of the defender to stay within this range. As the attacker is shielding the ball, attempting to turn, you must remember never to do the following:
   
   
   
   • Never lean on the attacker. Good attackers will use this over commitment to their advantage by spinning and playing the ball into the space left by the open defender. Leaning also allows a smart attacker to hook you, thus taking you out of the play. Just like basketball, use your bent forearm to their back. This will allow you to feel which way they turn.
     
   • Never lose sight of the ball. It's not the feet your trying to win, it's the ball. FOCUS.
     
   
   
   
5. Steer the attacker into the least dangerous space. If the attacker has turned, channel them into an area where they will do the least damage or into an area where you have help (more defenders). This may, in many cases, be the sideline. In short, the defender now attempts to “set a trap”. Here, the speed of the approach is crucial. If the defender tries to close down an attacker’s space too quickly, the attacker will play the ball quickly past the defender (overcommit). If done too slowly, the attacker is given too much time to make a good decision. 
   
   
6. Recovery runs. If the defender is beaten, they must now try to get goal-side of the attacker. The recovery run should be toward the near post. The object is to get goal side, in a good defending position, as quickly as possible.