Soccer-What is a "natural defender"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On our possession team the Center D is a key player. They value it as the most coveted spot.

+1

Our Center D is not the biggest and is skinny, but fast and smart. He has excellent ball skill and will dribble out if the back and take people on 1v1. He also will do give and go with outside mid, make runs. He directs the mids in front of him and wingbacks and keeper and he are in communication. He has the personality of a Sergio Ramos. Most of all, he doesn’t lose his cool or get flustered. This is U13

In the younger years, American coaches just stick the biggest kids back there with no clue as to what the position is.. They only exist t them to tackle. Period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On our possession team the Center D is a key player. They value it as the most coveted spot.

+1

Our Center D is not the biggest and is skinny, but fast and smart. He has excellent ball skill and will dribble out if the back and take people on 1v1. He also will do give and go with outside mid, make runs. He directs the mids in front of him and wingbacks and keeper and he are in communication. He has the personality of a Sergio Ramos. Most of all, he doesn’t lose his cool or get flustered. This is U13

In the younger years, American coaches just stick the biggest kids back there with no clue as to what the position is.. They only exist t them to tackle. Period.

Lose his cool as in “choke”...temper sometimes...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What age does all of this start (boys specifically) ? Because when you look online at youth sites, they all say put your worse players in wing or defender, which gives the defender position a bad name, or seems to be looked down upon.

Really? I have seen a lot of recommendations to play them at wing, but not defense. Defense may be an ok place to put a player who is flawed in terms of speed, but not a bad player.

A defender that doesn’t need speed...hmmmmmm. You people are interesting.

This board is so American. Sigh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:kids who hate to lose more than they like to win.

PP here. I think this is apt! Fits my kid anyhow.

Agree with this as well. In my experience, they tend to be very conscientious as well.

Yes, type A, hates to lose, watches the opposition like a shark (very attentive/aware).

[Anonymous]

What age does all of this start (boys specifically) ? Because when you look online at youth sites, they all say put your worse players in wing or defender, which gives the defender position a bad name, or seems to be looked down upon.


Really? I have seen a lot of recommendations to play them at wing, but not defense. Defense may be an ok place to put a player who is flawed in terms of speed, but not a bad player.


A defender that doesn’t need speed...hmmmmmm. You people are interesting.

Oh Jesus, of course some jerk has to post and put on airs. The best defenders of course have speed. But, when you are putting together a team of U13 or U14 kids, sometimes you don't get a 100 percent crop of the top athletes. Our two defenders are slower compared to our wings and midfielders, but they are both big, aggressive kids, so it works out fine. I am sure they do their job better than my son, who is only 80 lbs at 13 years old, could.

[Anonymous]

Defenders need speed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What age does all of this start (boys specifically) ? Because when you look online at youth sites, they all say put your worse players in wing or defender, which gives the defender position a bad name, or seems to be looked down upon.


Really? I have seen a lot of recommendations to play them at wing, but not defense. Defense may be an ok place to put a player who is flawed in terms of speed, but not a bad player.


A defender that doesn’t need speed...hmmmmmm. You people are interesting.

Oh Jesus, of course some jerk has to post and put on airs. The best defenders of course have speed. But, when you are putting together a team of U13 or U14 kids, sometimes you don't get a 100 percent crop of the top athletes. Our two defenders are slower compared to our wings and midfielders, but they are both big, aggressive kids, so it works out fine. I am sure they do their job better than my son, who is only 80 lbs at 13 years old, could.

Our weakest players U13 are hidden on the wing. Not at same time—and sometimes one of them at outside back. Anyone in the middle is a fast/skilled smart player: Center D; Center Mids & Striker. They have the best touches and fast decision making/move ball quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
What age does all of this start (boys specifically) ? Because when you look online at youth sites, they all say put your worse players in wing or defender, which gives the defender position a bad name, or seems to be looked down upon.


Really? I have seen a lot of recommendations to play them at wing, but not defense. Defense may be an ok place to put a player who is flawed in terms of speed, but not a bad player.


A defender that doesn’t need speed...hmmmmmm. You people are interesting.


Oh Jesus, of course some jerk has to post and put on airs. The best defenders of course have speed. But, when you are putting together a team of U13 or U14 kids, sometimes you don't get a 100 percent crop of the top athletes. Our two defenders are slower compared to our wings and midfielders, but they are both big, aggressive kids, so it works out fine. I am sure they do their job better than my son, who is only 80 lbs at 13 years old, could.


Our weakest players U13 are hidden on the wing. Not at same time—and sometimes one of them at outside back. Anyone in the middle is a fast/skilled smart player: Center D; Center Mids & Striker. They have the best touches and fast decision making/move ball quickly

PP here. That makes me feel great because my son is a midfielder!

[Anonymous]

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What age does all of this start (boys specifically) ? Because when you look online at youth sites, they all say put your worse players in wing or defender, which gives the defender position a bad name, or seems to be looked down upon.

Really? I have seen a lot of recommendations to play them at wing, but not defense. Defense may be an ok place to put a player who is flawed in terms of speed, but not a bad player.

A defender that doesn’t need speed...hmmmmmm. You people are interesting.

This board is so American. Sigh

So where do Ajax and Barcelona put their slowest players?

(I agree that speed is very much an asset for defenders, but I just like deflating people who put on airs about how much better things are in whatever league they watch / played in / live vicariously through.)

Barcelona’s midfielders are generally slower. Xavi admittedly said he was...quick brained, moved ball fast—acceleration but not pure speed A to B.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What age does all of this start (boys specifically) ? Because when you look online at youth sites, they all say put your worse players in wing or defender, which gives the defender position a bad name, or seems to be looked down upon.

Really? I have seen a lot of recommendations to play them at wing, but not defense. Defense may be an ok place to put a player who is flawed in terms of speed, but not a bad player.

A defender that doesn’t need speed...hmmmmmm. You people are interesting.

This board is so American. Sigh

So where do Ajax and Barcelona put their slowest players?

(I agree that speed is very much an asset for defenders, but I just like deflating people who put on airs about how much better things are in whatever league they watch / played in / live vicariously through.)

Barcelona’s midfielders are generally slower. Xavi admittedly said he was...quick brained, moved ball fast—acceleration but not pure speed A to B.

Mid guy iekders have endurance and move ball quick.

[Anonymous]

^Midfielders -

[Anonymous]

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What age does all of this start (boys specifically) ? Because when you look online at youth sites, they all say put your worse players in wing or defender, which gives the defender position a bad name, or seems to be looked down upon.

Really? I have seen a lot of recommendations to play them at wing, but not defense. Defense may be an ok place to put a player who is flawed in terms of speed, but not a bad player.

A defender that doesn’t need speed...hmmmmmm. You people are interesting.

This board is so American. Sigh

So where do Ajax and Barcelona put their slowest players?

(I agree that speed is very much an asset for defenders, but I just like deflating people who put on airs about how much better things are in whatever league they watch / played in / live vicariously through.)

They probably put them at holding mid. The problem here is making a one size fits all statement about where you “have” to play slower players, as if that’s the only attribute that players possess.

[Anonymous]

Natural defender, Quick, Good size, agile, good in the air, clears the box well, high possession rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Natural defender, Quick, Good size, agile, good in the air, clears the box well, high possession rate.

Communicates

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:just curious as I know little about the game. thanks

A natural defender is a paragon of every virtue known to mankind. There is no higher compliment in our world today than to term someone a "natural defender". If such a compliment has been applied to your child you should beam with pride and allow your soul to be filled with the music of angels, for your child is without doubt bound for heaven. It implies a level skill far beyond that which might be dreamt of by talentless midefielders who cannot outrun an ox nor out-think a headlessn ostrich, and one dimensional strikers who can neither tackle nor pass.