At some point in a game, your team may be under pressure from the attacking team.  There will be a need for the defenders to clear the ball out of the defensive area.

If you are using your head or feet to make a defensive clearance,   In order for the clearance to be considered successful, three things must happen.

• Height – The defensive clearance must be high and away from the ground.
• Width – The defensive clearance must be wide and away from the middle of the field.
• Distance – The clearance must be far away from the goal you are defending.

Clearing the ball high gives other defenders on your team time to reorganize defensively.  Clearing the ball far and wide prevents an immediate attack on goal.  So the next time you are attempting to clear a ball in a game or in practice, remember height, width and distance.