We hear and say the following quotes all the time regarding defense in soccer: "Offense wins games, defense wins championships“? Or “If you don’t concede any goals you’ll win more games than you lose.”
 
Yet how many of us coaches really understand team defense?
 
Without question, a team's ability to deny goals, limit opportunities and recapture the ball depends on both individual and group application of the principles of defense. 
 
All players, whether they are forwards, midfielders or defenders, have a responsibility in this effort. Players must stay focused in order to meet the defensive demands of entire match. 
 
So what are the principles of defense?
 
The first principle is that of IMMEDIATE CHASE. Immediate chase applies to both the player who loses the ball and to the team overall. Questions that a team should ask itself are: Can I or we win the ball back immediately? Can we regain possession by making the opponent make a poor decision? Can we have a collective defensive effort and are we recovering into positions that establish a defensive shape? It is important for your team to delay penetration while giving teammates opportunities to recapture the ball. This works best if all this occurs while the ball is still in transition.
 
The second principle is DELAY and DENY; in other words, to delay the attack and deny penetration. This allows players to recover and get organized behind the ball. Pressure needs to be applied quickly to the opponent with the ball. Pressure can be exerted at various angles and extent with one collective thought in mind: Recapture the ball based on either team's collective strengths or weakness.
 
The pressuring player always wants to display control and self-discipline but also possess an aggressive "You’re not going to beat me" attitude. The more effective the individual pressure, the more time allowed for teammates to collectively recover and organize.
 
The third principle is to COVER -- the organization of the players behind the pressuring defender. Cover can involve any number of players. There are several factors that dictate a covering player's position.  These factors are (in no particular order) the pressuring defender's body position, angle, and speed of closing down; the distance of pressure; the body language of the player on the ball, and the desired play in a particular third of the field. It should be noted that a player’s movement off of the ball (opposition and teammates) can also affect positioning.
 
Primarily, a covering player wants to position himself or herself to deny penetration by the dribble or the pass. If the pressuring player is beaten by a dribble, the covering player wants to deny the advancement of the player on the ball. If the pressuring player is beaten by a pass or through ball the covering player should be able to step in and intercept the pass by limiting or cutting off the passing lanes.