Improving Denfense and ball control

[FeverNova90]

i play denfense and trying to improve my skills
anyone know any good tips on how to denfend and take the ball away from the opponent? i've been training through drills like keep-away w/ friends and i need some improvement

also, whenever i get the ball i feel rushed that someone is gonna take the ball away and afraid to look for teammates to pass the ball to. any suggestions on ball pocession skill?

[mrelkane2u]

Defending is more of positioning skills than ball skills.

You have to know how fast you can run and how fast the opposite team player you're covering can run, and position yourself inside of the other guy (meaning, between him and the goal) so that when he makes a run, you can effectively stay with him. I can't explain exactly where and how far away, I just do it... Someone else could fill in here.

You should practice running backwards, quick footwork, etc... You have to be able to screen the guy in front of you while running backwards, giving him just enough space to make him feel confined, so that when he makes a mistake you can get to the ball. You can also lead the guy to the direction you want him to go. If you want him to go to the left corner you'd stay on the right side so that he'd be inclined to go to the other direction.

And never ever dive in for the ball. that's the worst thing you can do.

As for passing around the ball after you get it, i think that comes from experience and the level of teamwork. I mean, if someone's running at you, there should be someone yelling "man on" or something like that. A quick glance around before kicking won't be that hard. Always try to keep your head up, watching the movement of the players around you. Don't just stare at the ball on the ground.

[smithxi]

always angle your feet so that you push the offender to the sidelines of the field. get what i mean? and don't commit to the ball, let them make a mistake, just keep running with them and stay in front of them. sometimes it's tackticle to step to them if they are close to the goal.

[Anarchist]

Slow them down, defend patiently, and most importantly hold your shape. If you play a good team and commit too much, even if you're simply containing, and they'll pass around you. It IS about positioning, kids above me got that right. You need to learn how to mark two or three players at once (meaning, restrict passing lanes). The best way to learn is to watch EPL, dur. Watch how in defense, you rarely see a centerback rush in and jockey the forward outside of 20-ish yards. They sit on the 18, marking the passes and waiting VERY patiently. Rush on the shot, otherwise wait.

the way you should defend might also be based on the level you're playing at, keep that in mind.