In American football, the designation ‘‘defense coordinator’’ is fairly commonplace – the position oversees the defense for the team. In soccer, however, the role of a ‘‘defensive coordinator’’ is less well-known.
Although the term ‘‘defensive coordinator’’ does not appear in the English language to describe a position in soccer, it is commonly used – predominantly in Europe – to do so. The role of a defensive coordinator in soccer is to help establish the team’s defensive game-plan and then to implement it. A defensive coordinator is usually credited with coaching the team’s backline—regardless of whether he uses a 4-4-2 formation or a 4-3-3 formation—and ensuring that his players are aware of the game-planning and are executing it effectively. This is a crucial role in the development of a strong defensive game-style, as it allows the coaches to gauge the effectiveness of their strategy and make necessary adjustments before the game begins. For this reason, a defensive coordinator’s primary focus is on the field: scouting the opposing team and the strategies they use to attack, as well as devising a defensive game-plan that is appropriate for the team’s style and their opponents’ strengths and weaknesses.
Before the 2020–21 season begins, it’s important to establish the role of a defensive coordinator in soccer and how it differs from that of an American defensive coordinator. These are some of the most commonly asked questions about ‘‘defensive coordinators’’ in soccer, so let’s take a closer look.
What Is A Defensive Coordinator In Soccer?
In soccer, a ‘‘defensive coordinator’’ is typically employed by a football club (or by an individual coach) to help establish the team’s defensive game-plan and then to implement it. A defensive coordinator is usually assigned to work with the team’s backline, which is made up of the defense and midfield. In some cases, a defensive coordinator can also be tasked with training and developing the club’s central defenders – although this is less likely today than it used to be.
A defensive coordinator’s primary focus is on the field: scouting the opposing team and the strategies they use to attack, as well as devising a defensive game-plan that is appropriate for the team’s style and their opponents’ strengths and weaknesses. During the game, the defensive coordinator—whether he is on the touchline or in the stands—is observed by the coaches and scouts to make sure that their defensive game-plan is being implemented effectively.
In addition to coaching the backline, a defensive coordinator is also responsible for analyzing the team’s previous game-results and establishing the winning formula. As a result of this, the position usually has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the team. Furthermore, because a defensive coordinator is commonly tasked with devising a game-plan for the team, he or she will have a clear idea of what the team’s objectives are for the season and how they intend to achieve them. This makes a defensive coordinator an ideal person to oversee the team’s strategy – particularly in cases where the team plays a single game every week – as he or she will have a good understanding of how the team ticks and can make suggestions for improvement. In essence, a defensive coordinator in soccer is a jack of all trades, but master of none—except for developing a work-ethic within the team.
What Is The Role Of A Scout In Soccer?
In soccer, a ‘‘scout’’’ is an individual tasked with gathering information on the opposing team – ideally, before the game so that the information can be put into practice by the coaching staff. A scout’s role is to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition and suggest ways in which the team can outwit and outplay their opponent on the pitch.
Scouts from football clubs usually have a clear idea of what is expected of them – most football scouts were raised to expect to do everything possible to help their team win – and naturally take this role very seriously. While some scouts focus on one particular element of a game (such as scoring chances) others may be assigned to watch specific players or formations (such as the build-up from the defense or the midfield). In any case, a good scout is invaluable as they often have a good feel for the game due to months of training and analyzing game-play.
The information gathered by the scouts is then collated into a useful format that can be used to devise a game-plan by the coaching staff. Furthermore, due to the increasing use of data in today’s football world, scouts are also assigned the role of gathering information on the opposition and using the available stats to analyze the game. In addition to scouting the opposing team, a scout will usually focus on finding useful information on the players, training, and organization of the team they are assigned to watch. The information can be used to identify potential weaknesses that can be exploited by the coaching staff. For example, if the team is known to regularly rotate their backline, a scout will be able to tell the coaching staff that this could be a weak spot for the team.
How Do You Define A ‘‘Solid Defense’’ In Soccer?
In soccer, a ‘‘solid defense’’ is usually associated with a team that concedes few—if any—goals during a season. In cases where a team scores a lot of goals, the defense is often seen as the ‘‘weak’’’ link in the defensive chain, as the emphasis is firmly on goals scored. However, in cases where a team concedes few goals, then the defense is automatically considered to be a strong point for the side – the team is rarely, if ever, caught in a bad situation because of their defense.
A team’s goals-per-game average and the number of their conceding and scoring goals will determine how ‘‘solid’’’ the defense is perceived to be. Naturally, the fewer the goals that are conceded, the more effective the defense will be assessed as being. The reverse is also true—the more goals that are scored, the more ineffective the defense will be perceived to be.
The emphasis in soccer is very much on the present—on what is happening on the pitch—and on the result of the game. This is in contrast to other sports such as American football, where the emphasis tends to be on what has happened in the past and on the result of the game in the future. This is not to say that American football is without its merits. It’s just that in soccer, the result of the game is generally considered to be the most important factor, which is why it is so highly valued by fans, betters, and the media alike.
What Is The Difference Between A ‘‘Backline’’ And A ‘‘Midfield Line’’ In Soccer?
In soccer, the terminology ‘‘backline’’ and ‘‘midfield line’’ are sometimes used interchangeably, but they have distinct differences. A backline is made up of the defense and midfield—with the defense having more emphasis due to its positioning closer to the rival team’s goal—and is responsible for stopping the opposing team from scoring. The midfield line, on the other hand, is made up of the attack and defense, which are essentially the same as in the backline but are positioned differently due to their role within the game. The attack and defense are responsible for creating scoring opportunities for the team and keeping the opposing team’s offense off the score-sheet.
The backline is normally stationed at the furthest point from the opposing team’s goal and defends against direct hits from the rival team. In contrast, the midfield line is stationed closer to the opposing team’s goal and is primarily tasked with creating scoring opportunities, either by hitting the rival team directly with a ball or by using the speed and movement of the players to get past the opposing team’s defense. The team’s midfielders are usually positioned on the sides of the pitch, while their forwards push up toward the opposing team’s goal. In addition, some defenses – such as 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 formations used by most football clubs—will split the backline in half with one half being positioned near the rival team’s goal and the other closer to the touchline – this is done to create an additional defensive line.
Furthermore, while a backline is generally made up of large, powerfully-built individuals, a midfield line is usually made up of smaller—yet agile—individuals who are responsible for getting past the defense to create scoring opportunities for the team.