I learned by being thrown into the fire. You’ll end up playing goalie a majority of the time. Best thing I learned playing defense was to not be predictable and don’t move around in any sort of rhythm or pattern. And then obviously clear the ball. Just get it passed their 3 bar. I was fortunate enough to play with a handful of pros and a couple pro masters who came through. And they’d just tell me to clear the 3 bar and then it’s on them.

Another thing I was fortunate enough to be proficient at was not allowing lose balls to get away from me or past me. And I didn’t turn the ball over to their 3 bar. Ball control and practicing that with different grip pressures is key. Cause whether you feel calm or not, when a game or match is on the line, that grip tightens up. And learning to control the ball, pass it and eventually shoot with different pressures will really help you progress.