How to Play Defense in Soccer

Are you being scored on too often? Here are tips for how to play defense 1-on-1 against an opponent.

 Steps

1. 1
   Mark your opponent. Stay so tight that no one passes to him or her, unless told by your coach to play zone marking. Sticking close is called man-to-man marking.
   
   
2. 2
   Stay with your opponent. Don't try to take the ball from the carrier.
3. 3
   Don't do sliding tackles. If you fail to steal the ball, the carrier can pass you easily.
4. 4
   Be fast. If someone tries to pass to your opponent, get to the ball first and look out for passes that you can intercept.
5. 5
   Prevent goal access:
   
   
   • If your opponent receives the ball, don't let him turn his body toward the goal.
   • Block. If the opponent has the ball and is facing the goal, don't give him or her room to shoot. Stay within a couple feet. If he or she shoots, be in the way to block it.
   • If your opponent moves, move with him or her. Stay on your toes. If you must give your opponent room, do it toward the sidelines, so he or she can move away from the goal.
   • Don't let your opponent get past you. Stay on your toes and be ready to sprint at any time.
6. 6
   Never try to reach in and stab or swipe for the ball. Your opponent will dribble right past you if you do. Just stay close and wait.
7. 7
   Use your team support. If you have a teammate behind you (supporting you), you can look to try to take the ball from your opponent. If not, don't try.
8. 8
   Be aggressive and intimidating within the legal limits. Make your opponent think about you, not what else is going on around the field.
9. 9
   Watch your opponent from the sidelines and study his or her 1-on-1 moves and habits.
10. 10
    Contain as best as you can. If there aren't a lot of defenders in your half of the field, contain your opponent, slowing him or her down and making time for help to arrive. If there are plenty of defenders in your half of the field, you can be a little more assertive.
11. 11
    Know the speed and abilities of your opposing team. Know how they compare to yours, and take risks accordingly.
12. 12
    Occasionally look around and be aware of other players around the field. Try to anticipate where your opponent is going to pass.
13. 13
    Use deception. Deception is as powerful as speed. If your opponent thinks you're passive, you can surprise him or her.
14. 14
    Never watch your opponent's feet. Watch the ball.
15. 15
    Stay goalside. That means stay in between your player and the goal.
16. 16
    Wait until your player makes a mistake, then go in.
17. 17
    If your player gets by you and is one on one with the goalie, stay in pursuit in case they make a mistake, just being there will put pressure on them. Think before fouling them. Understand that if you do take down your opponent, most of the time this will result in a yellow card. With a few tackles (mainly the ones that deny the other player a chance to score) you will be ejected from the game with a red card. Red cards tend to include multiple game suspensions in many leagues, so before you foul the player from behind, remember what the consequences are! In addition, taking down and potentially injuring a player who has beaten you fairly is not good form.
18. 18
    Always think one move ahead of everyone else.
    
    Source : www.wikihow.com