Positioning when marking a player

Your position is important when defending. A good defender will stand inline between his opponent and the center of the goal.

Has the attacker moves around, the defender adjusts his position to stay inline with the center of the goal.

Why is this a good position?

• It stops the attacker going the shortest route towards goal. He has to run around you.
• If a ball is played in the direction of the goal the defender has the shorter distance to run to get it.
• The defender is in a good position to put the attacker under pressure if the attacker gets the ball to his feet.
• The defender can see his opponent and everything thats happening in front of him.

Watch this tactics board video to see what i mean: