This video focuses on an important defensive habit that becomes even more important as the game gets faster at higher levels.

One of the biggest adjustments when players move from club football to college football is the speed of the game. The ball travels faster and players are able to do more with less space. Because of that, defenders have to recognize certain moments earlier and react faster.

This session focuses on one specific type of moment called a predictable phase.

A predictable phase is when the ball is already traveling and you can clearly read where it is going. The ball is not unpredictable in these moments. It is already on its way to a certain area or player.

And the ball is not going to grow wings and suddenly fly somewhere else.

That means you can use that time to control the situation as a defender.

There are two important reactions you need in these moments.

The first reaction happens when you can see both the ball and the player you are responsible for in the same frame.

In this situation the ball is traveling toward your opponent and you can read the trajectory early. That is your signal to become aggressive.

Close the distance quickly. Get tight to the player before the ball arrives. The closer you are when the ball arrives, the smaller the turning space becomes for the attacker. That limits his options and makes it much harder for him to turn and attack your back line.

We see this done very well in the first clip where you close the space early and win the ball.

The second reaction happens when the ball is traveling over you or past you.

In those moments it is very common for defenders to keep watching the ball and lose track of the player they were responsible for. When the ball travels for a long time like a long pass or a goalkeeper kick, that is actually when you have the most time to organize yourself.

The key detail is this.

When the ball is traveling over you, locate your player first.

Find where your man is going.

Then locate the ball again.

Because the ball is already traveling to a destination and it is not going to suddenly change direction. But if you lose the player while watching the ball, you lose the most important reference in the moment.

At higher levels attackers take advantage of exactly those situations.

This video shows both of those reactions.

When you can see the ball and the player together, be aggressive and close the space early.

When the ball goes past you or over you, find your player first and then relocate the ball.

These small moments are what separate good defenders from impactful defenders as the level of the game increases.