| What Does it Mean to "Push Up" Soccer Fullbacks? | | | | doesn't mean you have to leave the fullbacks in the |
| The term push up refers to soccer fullbacks or | | | | penalty box, but that they play conservatively and don't |
| midfielders moving forward toward the halfway line | | | | give up goals because they can't recover in time to |
| when their team is attacking, so they can support the | | | | defend a fast counterattack. |
| attack. | | | | A Mistake Many Recreational Soccer Coaches Make: |
| What Does it Mean to "Defend Deep"? Defending | | | | Recreational coaches often believe they must push up |
| deep refers to leaving your fullbacks deep on your half | | | | their fullbacks when they attack because that is what |
| of the field, usually within your defensive third and | | | | they see travel teams and professional teams do. The |
| sometimes within your penalty box (you can give them | | | | difference is that Rec teams often have slow |
| specific boundaries to stay within, such as to not come | | | | fullbacks who can't run as fast as the opposing |
| past the top of the penalty box arc unless it is to kick | | | | forwards and pushing up slow fullbacks can result in |
| away a loose ball) when your team is attacking. | | | | the opponent getting easy goals on breakaways. You |
| Defending deep means to only push up your fullbacks | | | | can't make slow players become fast. Fullback can be |
| as far as they can go and still recover to defensive | | | | a good spot for slow, brave players who defend deep. |
| positions in case your opponent counterattacks. It | | | | |