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.

I think it's someone who reads the field well--someone who is good at directing players (being able to see the whole field) and anticipating plays before they occur. A good defender is also patient--willing to control/contain the play and wait for teammates to regroup vs. making a quick play.

Anonymous wrote:a slower, bigger kid usually

DD is U11- the fastest girls on her team are the 2 and 3. The best all around player plays the 4

What's a natural defender? At U-Little it's about trust. Midfielders and wings are a dime a dozen at that age. The best teams put their best players back there because the coach trusts him/her to stop the opposition. Generally, physical, tactically aware (especially off the ball), good passer, and can shield the ball.

Yeah, there is physicality, height, endurance, etc. but for me the most important quality that the bets defenders have is the ability to read the game. They have soccer intelligence.

When they look up the field they can see the danger, not just the imminent danger, but the potential danger in the next two or three phases of the game. And then they get themselves and their team mates into the right position to deal with it. When you watch a defender at the top of their game they make it look effortless.

So a good defender needs to be intelligent. They also need to be an excellent communicator, as they need to organize the defense and midfield.

Often in the kids games defenders are looked down on as the kids who can’t score. Totally wrong. It is a tremendous position to play.

When my kid played u-little, it meant she was agressive before a lot of the other kids grew into that.

She'd head right into the pack coming toward the goal, and fight until she got the ball out of there.

Anonymous wrote:A player that can't score to save their life.

Sergio Ramos begs to differ. But, you’re probably American, right?

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

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

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

lol. i have one of those.

kids who hate to lose more than they like to win.

There are kids who are drawn to the position and who really enjoy defense. My son is one, he really likes going behind the play and cleaning up and chasing down attackers. He's smart and thinks strategically about where to be on the field, and how to make plays happen.

He also has a very good shot, but prefers defense.

grabbing the popcorn.

On DDs team, the one girl who fits the role has incredibly quick feet, is one of the fastest on the team, has great endurance, is very tenacious, is physically large, and is very competitive. She'd excel anywhere on the field, but likes defense, so she gets tagged a natural defender

a slower, bigger kid usually

A player that can't score to save their life.

just curious as I know little about the game. thanks