Reply to Soccer-What is a "natural defender"?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]2 of my kids have been called “natural defenders” by their soccer coaches in u-littles and I think it fits them. What the coaches have said to me is that my kids are good listeners, and that the coaches know they’re always in position when they look for them. Maybe that’s part of being a good defender?

They are both big for their age, too- and one of them (the better one) doesn’t mind getting physical.

There is that quality of doggedness- like little guard dogs. They relish getting that ball out of the goal area.  I wouldn’t say either of them are very fast- so the idea that slower bigger kids are defenders (mentioned above) might be right, too. [/quote]

That is what Ulittle coaches look for, but by U13 and above the defender attributes change. Speed is a requirement.  They are faster than midfielders.  They have to out pace the wings and strikers.[/quote]

That's a bit of a myth. Defenders don't have to be physically faster than the strikers though it doesn't hurt. They just have to be smarter and better positioned or mentally quicker so they get to where they need to be before the striker. [/quote]

But if they are caught out of position once they are screwed (or evan needed elsewhere). My DS has been caught a few times playing up too far ( still very young) but he can outrun any of the strikers or wings and literally beats them to the ball every time. I don't see how you can be slow unless stay in that one spot. Seems you are missing a lot of other aspects of the game or ability to help out your teammates? Though this is probably less of an issue for older kids who play their positions better.

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