The Door Slam: How to Keep a Defender Behind You Once You Beat Them

Imagine this. You are playing in a game. You have the ball on the wing. A defender runs at you, but you do a great move. You push the ball past them and sprint.

You feel amazing! You think you are free.

But two seconds later, the defender runs back, catches up to you, and pokes the ball away. All your hard work is gone.

This happens to soccer players of all ages. It is very frustrating. But there is an easy way to stop it from happening. It is a trick called "The Door Slam."

What is the Door Slam?

When you dribble past a defender, they do not just stop and watch you. They turn around and sprint to catch you.

If you keep running in a straight line, you are leaving a highway open for them. They can run right next to you and tackle you again.

The Door Slam means you jump right into their highway. You run directly into their path. You put your body right between the defender and the ball. You are slamming the door in their face.

Imagine the field has lanes, like a swimming pool.

• You start in Lane 1.
• The defender is in Lane 2.
• You kick the ball past them in Lane 1.
• As soon as your shoulders get past theirs, you must move into Lane 2.

Once you are in Lane 2, the defender is directly behind you. They cannot touch the ball anymore. To get the ball, they would have to kick through your legs or push you in the back. If they do that, the referee will blow the whistle and give you a free kick.

How to Slam the Door in Three Steps

You do not need to be the fastest player on the field to do this. You just have to be smart. Here is how you do it:

• Get half a step ahead. You do not need to be miles away from the defender. You only need your shoulder to be slightly ahead of theirs. Once you have that small lead, you are ready.
• Take a slanted touch. Do not kick the ball straight ahead. Kick the ball slightly sideways, right across the path of the defender. Follow the ball with your body.
• Run tall and strong. Do not slow down when you cut in front of them. Keep your speed up. If the defender bumps into your back, use your arms to stay balanced. Keep running.

By doing this, you force the defender to make a choice. They have to slow down, or they have to foul you. Most of the time, they will slow down. This gives you extra time to look up, pass, or shoot.

How to Practice It

You can practice this with a teammate or a parent at your next practice.

First, have your partner stand still. Dribble past them. As soon as you pass their shoulder, take a sharp touch to get directly in front of them. Your heels should be right in front of their toes.

Next, have your partner jog slowly behind you. Dribble past them and cut them off. Feel how your body blocks them.

Finally, try it at game speed. It might feel scary to run right in front of someone who is sprinting. But remember, the rules of soccer protect you. As long as you are shielding the ball, the space belongs to you.

Next time you beat a defender, do not leave the door open. Slam it shut!