- Your main job is to stop attackers shooting - you don't have to win the ball.
- If you're not the closest defender to the ball, make sure you back up the defender who is closest.
- Stay alert, try to guess what is going to happen next.
- Direct attackers towards places where they can't shoot - the sideline is your friend.
- When you are closing down an attacker, keep your eyes on the ball. Wait for him or her to lose control before you tackle.
- Be brave! If you have to put your body in the way of a shot, do it.
- When you have the ball get your head up and look for a quick pass to a midfield player or forward.
- Stay on your feet - sliding tackles are a last resort.
- Don't hoof the ball upfield all the time hoping that one of your players will get on the end of it. That's another last resort!
- When passing back to your goalkeeper, pass the ball to his stronger foot and to the side of the goal (see 'technique', below)
Technique: coach your players the right way to pass back to the goalkeeper
REMEMBER - A GOALKEEPER CANNOT PICK UP A BACKPASS OR THEY WILL GIVE AWAY AN INDIRECT FREE-KICK.
Tell your players they must NEVER pass the ball back to the goalkeeper between the goalposts. ALWAYS pass to the side so that if the goalkeeper misses their kick the worst that can happen is your team gives away a corner.
Make sure your players always pass to the goalkeepers strongest foot. A left footed goalie doesn't want the ball on their right foot with an attacker charging at them.
This means you must let all your players know if your goalkeeper is right or left footed!