Consistent Tackling.

[blastoff]

Hi all,

I sometimes play really well, and i sometimes play really poor, i think this is judged on my tackling, seeing as i'm a defender. My tackling is really inconsistent, sometimes i just cannot take the ball off someone when they run at me, and sometimes my feet are like a magnet to the ball!!

Any general tips on tackling, besides the usual 'whatch the ball' :P

I'm not very fast at all, so being a defender i need to tackle really well, because i can read the game well, just sometimes my tackling is soo poor, which makes me feel as if i'm playing absolutely rubbish.

Maybe it's to do with nerves, but i relax i'll become sloppy...

Any advice welcome
cheers
Blastoff

[SoccerLuva]

I play defense too, and some tips other people have given me are to use the sidelines as another defender. That way, you'll have a better chance of getting the ball, or they'll just have to kick it out.

And yeah, you've probably heard it a lot, but watching the ball really IS important. My last game I STUNK at defense (seriously...my team lost 12-1...well, you get the idea). But at practices since them, I've been concentrating on the ball itself when we do one on one and it really does help. You can't pay attention to the foot movements or the positioning of their body because that'll just throw you off.

And as much as soccer is about skill and practice, it has a lot to do with attitude. When you go out there, you HAVE to think, "This is my ball...this is MY ball..."

[Sain1]

When somone is dribbling at you, offset yourself a bit, make them go one way. That way you already know where therye gonig and then you can step in and take the ball.

If you just stand there and slowly backpeddle a simple cut and theyre off.

[blastoff]

If you just stand there and slowly backpeddle a simple cut and theyre off.

This is where i usually get caught. I think instead of doing this i have to go to the man, and as was also stated usher them out to the line and stick a foot in as they go past. Which seems obvious, but sometimes i just plain don't do it lol. I'll give it a whirl tomorrow in my match (that is unless i get put upfront hehe)

Cheers guys.

blastoff