Elevate Your Soccer IQ
Take your soccer training beyond the pitch with BGTV – an all-access video network that focuses on developing how you view the game.
Take your soccer training beyond the pitch with BGTV – an all-access video network that focuses on developing how you view the game.
Defenders, let’s check out this play here that we see happening a lot.. what should you do, what’s the right move?
Let’s check out these two videos & go over how to improve defensive clearances with the head.
Let’s watch what this center back does after the ball goes back to the goalkeeper.
Let’s watch how this center backs simple little pass leads directly to the goal.
No matter what position you play on the field, reading the game is so important, understanding what might happen, what will happen and how do I take advantage of that.
Movement is what creates goals, especially in the offensive third of the field.
Tips for defenders going up against wingers & strikers who may be faster and or stronger than you.
Let’s watch a couple example of why footwork is critical when it comes to defending.
Let’s watch these goals & see what they all have in common to help them score.
Center backs in this video we are going to learn how to advance the ball effectively by identifying passing lanes that can split defensive lines.
Let’s watch Luis Suárez make this incredible goal by making double movements in the box.
Let’s watch this fantastic goal by Minnesota against Seattle!
You never have to play offsides but knowing when it’s safe to play it; can you give you a big advantage.
On the offensive side let's watch some tips for scoring Goals as an Outside back or Wingback, plus more tips on the defensive side on what to Improve as a Centerback.
Centerbacks, you don't need to always win the headers, sometimes the better choice is to let the ball go. Let's watch some examples of when to do that.
Let's watch this defender take on a striker, how do you think she did?
Let's watch this long run that leads to a goal and learn ways you can prevent this as an outside back and centerback.
Outside backs and Centerbacks let's learn things we can do when we are getting pinned by a Winger.
Let's watch this great goal but analyze what the outside back & centerback could have done a little better.
Mistakes happen to everyone, especially at the highest level.
Let's checkout this perfect opportunity as a centerback to put this striker offsides.
Let's watch what this centerback DOESN'T do that she does well.
Let's watch and learn how to perfect this key move; this touch is important for everyone in all positions to learn and practice.
Checking away from the ball then checking to it is a simple movement — but it works very well to create space even at the highest level of the game.
The little details that make up this goal the entire team earned couldn’t be done better if it was scripted.
Look at your foot placement — if you’re flat footed, you need to be behind the attacker and block their run. If you’re facing the sideline, you’re ready to drop back.
When the attacking player you’re marking drops into space, it’s natural to move up with them. But you have to be ready to make a recovery run so you are not creating a lot of space behind you.
When your partner CB is goalside, it’s your job to be in line with them. It’s the easiest way to close down space in front of the goal and helps to defend against the early cross.
If you aren’t the fastest player on the field, you need to look closely at your positioning and footwork when getting in a race with someone quicker than you.
A CB highlight reel often is filled with either plays by the other team that fizzle out due to good positioning or recovering from mistakes like this beautiful tackle. What do you want more of in your hightlight reel?
Create space between you and the striker to receive the ball, but if you don’t get it, it’s an immediate sprint up to close down space.
Two learning moments for CBs in this video: deciding when to dribble out of the back (and when to pass it back to your keeper) and handling a 2 v 1 as a CB.
When you get a yellow and you think it was a bad call, getting angry and frustrated is natural. But you have to stay aware of the line in the sand when the ref will be ok with you complaining and when you’ll get a red card for it.
Attacking midfielders love to play a line-breaking pass. Defenders can get them to change their mind by staying together and be facing the sideline (and thus ready for a footrace with the strikers).
More often than not, the best defending in a 1 v 1 isn’t winning the ball. Stay goalside, slow them down, and give your teammates time to recover and help you out.
A Ball Playing Centerback is the profile that every scout and coach is looking for these days. Here are three examples of how to read the defense and find the space as a CB.
This one is pretty straightforward — watch the player in your position and see what she does. Everyone did their job exactly as they should have.
This is the kind of play that is often overlooked by fans watching the game, but gets coaches excited about a player. This is what you want to see from your CB or OB in this situation.
A peek inside the thought process of a professional Centerback looking to start the attack.
Look at the CB’s decision-making on this play. Don’t stab, don’t get beat, slow the striker down until you have support.
Same play as the Preventing the Deep Run video, but look at it from the other side. When the deep run is cut off, what pass should the CB make?
When the opposition CB or CDM has the ball and space, often they’re going to look for a long ball over the defense for their striker to run on to. Here’s how to prevent that ball from coming in.
The truth is it’s hard to see elite defending from CBs because their opponents are trying to take advantage of their mistakes. If the CBs are doing their job, the CM with the ball is going to drop it or switch fields. This is great defending.
Getting the right positioning and not letting them win the ball at the same time. No need to worry about clearing it until after you make sure they aren’t going to get a clean header.
When the other team is going for the cross, your job defending against it is to make the other player’s job more difficult. If you can block the cross, force them to play a less than perfect ball. If you’re marking a striker going near post, step in front of them to slow them down.
When resetting the attack, we commonly expect to switch fields to the weak side as that’s where the space is. But a well timed (meaning after the defense has started switching sides) line-breaking pass back to the strong side leads to some great goal scoring opportunities.
‘Stand them up’ is often the best 1 v 1 defense. You don’t have to win the ball, just don’t let them by you to create a good chance. Textbook examples that will kill the other team’s opportunities every time.