Most defenders in the upper age groups and even college were not defenders until late in their soccer career. Many coaches wait to place kids in a position. Defenders are the best athletes on the field and need, speed, range, and power, height and size is also a bonus.

They need to be able to do everything.

I am the poster whose U12 child normally plays left back. They do rotate the kids a bit (sometimes he plays midfield, and they make everyone do at least one game as goalie). The problem is that many of the players on the team only know how to play/want to play forward positions, and are useless as defenders, whereas DS is better at defending and weaker at forward positions. So during games, the coach has been playing people where they are best. But, I guess that's self-perpetuating the problem, because the other kids are not learning to improve at defending, and DS is not improving as a forward player.

Anonymous wrote:Most defenders in the upper age groups and even college were not defenders until late in their soccer career. Many coaches wait to place kids in a position. Defenders are the best athletes on the field and need, speed, range, and power, height and size is also a bonus.

They need to be able to do everything.

+1. I agree with this. I played DI and made the U19 team as a defender, but when i was younger I played all over the field (never in goal though, lol). Work on every aspect of the game. I guess individual training has a place, but what will help your son be better is to play a lot of pickup and even just play on his own. My two cents added to the good advice from PP.

also field vision, being able to see the players playing up top on the opposite side and actually get them the ball and the speed to go on a run when needed.

Most defenders in the upper age groups and even college were not defenders until late in their soccer career. Many coaches wait to place kids in a position. Defenders are the best athletes on the field and need, speed, range, and power, height and size is also a bonus.

They need to be able to do everything.

OP, could you ask other coaches in your club whether they would be interested in doing training for a fee? Our child's coach doesn't do this, but we found another coach who was happy to, just by asking around.

My son (also U12) is usually a defender (left back). He is not big or super fast. He does all of the necessary things that people describe above. His coach says he would be even better if he were willing to take more contact, but that is tough when he is 70 lbs and many opponents are over 100 lbs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At U12, there's not specific training needed for defenders. They need basic skills: ball striking with both feet, good first touch, taking balls out of the air, speed and quickness. If your child masters those skills, and I mean not just become proficient but truly master them, he/she will be the best defender around.

Positioning and cutting off angles, 2 v 1 situations on a defender, 3 v 1, our club definitely works with defense. In addition to where they move when one of them goes up, overlaps, etc. also- who stays back and how far. Closing the gap between midfield, etc. Movement is critically important.

There is so much to defense. It’s just not taught here. They usually just stick some fast, big/aggressive kids with little skill/game knowledge. That’s not the same in the rest of the world.

OP here - sorry, but was away for a bit. This sounds fantastic. All I know is that at our club, we do nothing of the kind. Do you know where I might find a trainer who might be able to teach some of these same strategies?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At U12, there's not specific training needed for defenders. They need basic skills: ball striking with both feet, good first touch, taking balls out of the air, speed and quickness. If your child masters those skills, and I mean not just become proficient but truly master them, he/she will be the best defender around.

Positioning and cutting off angles, 2 v 1 situations on a defender, 3 v 1, our club definitely works with defense. In addition to where they move when one of them goes up, overlaps, etc. also- who stays back and how far. Closing the gap between midfield, etc. Movement is critically important.

There is so much to defense. It’s just not taught here. They usually just stick some fast, big/aggressive kids with little skill/game knowledge. That’s not the same in the rest of the world.

Just go in and play the body — make enough contact to knock them off the ball, but not down, is essentially what is “taught” here.

Anonymous wrote:At U12, there's not specific training needed for defenders. They need basic skills: ball striking with both feet, good first touch, taking balls out of the air, speed and quickness. If your child masters those skills, and I mean not just become proficient but truly master them, he/she will be the best defender around.

Positioning and cutting off angles, 2 v 1 situations on a defender, 3 v 1, our club definitely works with defense. In addition to where they move when one of them goes up, overlaps, etc. also- who stays back and how far. Closing the gap between midfield, etc. Movement is critically important.

There is so much to defense. It’s just not taught here. They usually just stick some fast, big/aggressive kids with little skill/game knowledge. That’s not the same in the rest of the world.

This is my favorite part of the website because you’re all so nuts and you just can’t help yourselves.

Anonymous wrote:At U12, there's not specific training needed for defenders. They need basic skills: ball striking with both feet, good first touch, taking balls out of the air, speed and quickness. If your child masters those skills, and I mean not just become proficient but truly master them, he/she will be the best defender around.

OP here:

All-Thank you so much for your responses.

My DS is U12 as well. While I agree with much of what the above poster said, I do believe that there are points of strategy which can be learned at U12 and which can only strengthen the performance of a child who is moving towards mastering basic skills (ball striking with both feet, good first touch, taking balls out of the air, speed and quickness.)

In response to the poster who suggested asking our coach to have a session on defending, that is a great idea but one our coach would never agree to. I find that he, and many other coaches, value defenders but are not willing to focus much training on this position. I feel that this is shortsighted, but a reality. That is why I am trying to find a trainer who can speak to the position - one who played defense would be ideal.

Thanks again to you all!

Has your coach taught individual defending why don't you just ask your coach to do a session with your player for an hour

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone recommend a good trainer who could provide specialized sessions for a defender.? We would prefer someone who is relatively close to NW DC.

Thanks so much

You should be able to find a coach that does training on the side at local fields. Ask around, ask parents and coaches if they know anyone doing private training. HP elite sometimes does defending but if you can find a private coach that would be better. Once you find a good private coach they they can help focus on position.

At U12, there's not specific training needed for defenders. They need basic skills: ball striking with both feet, good first touch, taking balls out of the air, speed and quickness. If your child masters those skills, and I mean not just become proficient but truly master them, he/she will be the best defender around.

Same question for our U12 DS. Hoping someone responds as it seems there is not a lot out there for defenders.

Can anyone recommend a good trainer who could provide specialized sessions for a defender.? We would prefer someone who is relatively close to NW DC.

Thanks so much