How to defend and avoid unnecessary tackles

 

Paolo Maldini: "If I have to make a tackle then I have already made a mistake."

 

Paolo Maldini, in the OPINION of this coach, is one of the greatest defenders to have ever played the game (in my opinion) but this quote from him sums up exactly what defending in football is all about!

When making a tackle, almost always, you have already made a mistake in;

• Team work

• Communication

• Positioning

• Game Awareness 

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I truly believe that you can stop any opponent scoring a goal without ever making a tackle in all football, including the walking version.

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Think about it, if you are in a line directly between the ball and the goal you can block (not tackle) any effort at goal - without too much pain as well!!

If you stay upright, and block the goal AND communicate with your keeper and team mates your opponents simply cannot score!

Think about how they possibly could score, even if you do your job, and every possibility can be avoided!

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Scenarios include

• another opponent (not the one you are blocking) scoring - this is because a team mate has not done what you’ve done. Think about it, both teams have the same numbers of players so if you all win your individual “battles” your team will win!!

• The shot gets past you - this is because your position is not right, you’ve left a gap or are too far from the opponent. The other scenario here is that the keeper and yourself are not “working together”

• The opponent gets past you - this is because you’ve lost your position between the ball and the goal, to overcome this, watch the ball NOT the opponents feet, it’s the ball that "scores" the goal by getting over the goal line, not the opponent!

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So, do all of that, and ……….

• demand the same of your team mates, 

• don’t commit unless it’s a last resort and remember that a last resort means you’ve done something wrong, but it’s not the end of the world you CAN still recover.

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I am not saying never make a tackle, but use it to your advantage.

For example, up the pitch to win the ball and then counter attack, but remember if you fail to make the tackle your team is outnumbered when defending and the opponents have then the advantage!

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Defending, like all aspects of the game, and life in general, is a series of, CALCULATED, risks!

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So, weigh up the situation when defending, there’s very little time for “Hollywood” (big time, “look at me”) defending by individuals in a team game.

And finally, remember that Maldini quote “If I have to make a tackle then I have already made a mistake." during the game and you’ll be a much better defender!! 

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The final thought I’d that defending doesn’t just apply to defenders, it is the same philosophy for all your team’s players when you are OUT OF POSSESSION (which is when you are defending!! Wherever the ball is situated)​