The Surfer Stance: How to Stand When You Defend 1v1

When a player dribbles the ball right at you, what do you do?

Most young defenders make a big mistake. They stand flat. They face the dribbler with their feet side-by-side, like they are waiting in line at the school cafeteria.

If you stand this way, you are in trouble. A quick dribbler will kick the ball past you and run. Or, they will kick the ball right between your legs.

To stop them, you need to change how you stand. You need to use the Surfer Stance.

How to Stand Like a Surfer

Think about how a surfer stands on a surfboard. They do not face the front of the board with their feet side-by-side. If they did, they would lose their balance and fall into the water.

Instead, they stand sideways. One foot is in front. The other foot is in the back. Their knees are bent. They are ready for the wave to move.

You should do the exact same thing when you defend. Here is how to set up your Surfer Stance:

• Put one foot forward. It does not matter which one. Choose the foot that feels natural to lead with.
• Turn your body sideways. Your chest should face the side of the field, not the player with the ball.
• Bend your knees. Get a little bit low. This keeps you balanced and ready to spring.
• Stay on your toes. Do not let your heels touch the ground. If your heels are flat on the grass, you are stuck in mud.

Why This Stance Makes Defending Easy

The Surfer Stance gives you three big advantages.

First, it lets you run backward fast. Try running backward with your feet flat and side-by-side. It is slow and clunky. Now, try moving backward from your surfer stance. You can glide easily because your body is already turned.

Second, it closes the tunnel. When your feet are side-by-side, there is a giant gap between your legs. Attackers love to kick the ball through this gap. In the Surfer Stance, your legs are lined up front-to-back. The tunnel is closed.

Third, you get to choose where the attacker goes. This is called steering.

Imagine you want the attacker to run toward the sideline where they have less room. Put your front foot on the side closer to the middle of the field. This blocks their path to the goal. It leaves an open lane toward the sideline. The attacker will almost always take the open lane. You have just steered them exactly where you want them.

Three Mistakes to Avoid

Even older players make mistakes when they defend. Here are three things you should never do:

• Do not lunge. Do not reach out with one foot to grab the ball. If you miss, the attacker is gone. Stay in your stance and wait for them to make a mistake.
• Do not get too close. Keep about one arm-length of space between you and the ball. If you get closer than that, the attacker can push the ball past you before you can turn.
• Do not watch their eyes or hips. Watch the ball. The ball is the only thing that matters. Players can fake with their eyes or shoulders, but the ball cannot lie.

Next time you practice defending, do not stand flat. Catch your wave. Get into your Surfer Stance, bend your knees, and steer the attacker. You will find that keeping players in front of you gets a whole lot easier.