1st, 2nd, and 3rd Defender Principles and Roles

Good defending begins with an understanding of how the principles of defense are applied by both the individual player as well as collectively within the team. The moment a team loses possession of the ball, an immediate organization of winning it back begins.

• Immediate Chase - The moment possession is lost to the other team, the nearest player(s) work to regain possession or apply pressure on the ball. These players are considered the 1st Defenders, because they have the first chance to win the ball back. Players giving immediate chase can also help to delay the attack by making recovery runs that deny the opponent the opportunity to play the ball quickly forward.
• Delay - The pressuring defender(s) forces the attacking team to slow down so that the rest of the team can organize the defense. While applying pressure the defender must be careful to not over-commit. If he/she is beaten easily the time for the team to organize is shortened.
• Depth - This refers to the immediate organization of players behind the pressuring defender. While the ball is being pressured all other players should be recovering into defensive positions. The positions taken should support the pressuring defender in the event he is beaten. This is called providing defensive cover.
• Balance - As the team concentrates their defense in the area of the ball, defenders away from the ball (opposite side of field) must position themselves to cover vital spaces (central areas) in order to prevent attackers from making penetrating runs into these spaces in which to receive the ball for an attempt on goal. All players who are on the opposite side must seek positions in which to provide balance to the defense.
  
• Concentration - As players recover towards their own goal and organize their defense, the objective is to limit the time and space for the opponent by concentrating their defense in the area of the ball. Defenders also recover centrally towards their goal in order to limit the opponents ability to directly attack the goal.
  
• Control and Restraint - Players must be disciplined and play "under control" when challenging for the ball. Too often players make poorly timed or off-balanced attempts to win the ball. Players should refrain from tackling until they are confident they will win the ball.
  

It is important for players to understand their role and function within the game as well as their position. While the team is defending, a player will assume the responsibility to provide pressure, cover, balance or depth.

A. Pressure (1st Defender - the closest player to the ball)

• Apply pressure to the ball to regain possession if possible
• Deny penetration of any kind
• Select proper angle of challenge
• Select proper speed of challenge

B. Cover (2nd Defender)

• Provide cover support for the 1st defender
• Select proper angle of support
• Should be a distance that the 2nd defender can tackle or immediately close down the attacker who has beaten the 1st defender (the 2nd defender needs to be ready to become the 1st defender if the attacker beats their teammate)
• Distance of support will vary with the third of the field and the amount of pressure on the ball
• Responsible for tracking supporting attackers who make forward runs

C. Balance (3rd Defenders or Everyone Else)

• Track attackers away from the area of the ball who are making forward runs
• Squeeze space towards center of the field to "lock up" vital areas
• Preserve balance/shape

D. Compactness (Everyone's job)

• Pressure, cover, and balance together provide depth of defense
• Organization of defending between the various lines, e.g., midfield and defending line
• Proper Positioning, spacing and number of defenders in area of the ball vital to maintain depth in defense

The key idea that all players must realize is that the moment the team loses possession of the ball, the ENTIRE TEAM BECOMES DEFENDERS.