The primary objective of any soccer team is to win the game. The team with the most goals at the end of the game wins. Therefore, it is very important for a team to score goals, but it is also equally important to prevent the opposing team from scoring goals of their own. This task of preventing the opposing team from scoring falls to the players known as the defenders.

There are four positions on a soccer team that fall under the category of defenders. These positions are: centre back, sweeper, full back, and wingback. Defenders are charged with the task of preventing the opposing team from getting the ball to the goal area. If the defenders fail, the goalkeeper must then stop the soccer ball from entering the goal.

The defenders called the centre backs are positioned in front of the goalkeeper. There are generally two centre backs in play at any given time. Centre backs may defend a particular area of the field, or they may play one-on-one defense against one player from the opposing team. Centre backs must not only prevent the opposing team from scoring, but also try to get the soccer ball out of their own penalty area, which is the area around the goal that the opposing team is shooting for. Centre backs may occasionally leave their area to try to score a goal for their own team. This often occurs when the goal can be scored by heading, or hitting the ball with one\'s head, as many centre backs are very good at heading the ball.

The sweeper position is similar to the centre back position, but is a backup defender. The sweeper must also be better at passing and controlling the soccer ball than centre backs are required to be. The sweeper comes into play if the opposing team gets the ball past the centre backs. The position is called \"sweeper\" because this player is said to sweep up the ball to remove it from the penalty area and prevent a goal being scored by the opposing team. The sweeper position is also referred to as the \"libero\" position.

A full back is one of the two most aggressive of all the soccer team\'s defensive positions. There are generally two full backs on the field, one on each side of the field. The full backs will often tackle players on the opposing team, to avoid the soccer ball being brought close to the penalty area.

The second aggressive defender position on a soccer team is that of the wingback. The wingback position is very similar to the full back position, but the wingback plays a more defensive role. The wingback position is a combination of full back and winger positions. Wingbacks must have great stamina, and they are often an integral part of the defense in a soccer team that does not use the winger position.

No matter what defender position a player covers, he or she must be able to read the game well. Anticipating the opposition\'s next move is vital to a good defense. Physical fitness and technical skills are also extremely important for a good defender. Experienced soccer players make the best defenders for a team.

No soccer team can be a great soccer team without a good set of defenders. Without defenders, each goal a team scores would simply be answered by a goal scored by the opposing team, which would create a game with no clear-cut winner. The use of defenders also makes for a more exciting and enjoyable game for both the players and fans alike.