By Angela Williams Glenn 
Sometimes it comes down to just you and them. You’re the only thing standing between them and the back of the net they long to put their shot through. You know now is the time to stand tall, stand firm, hold the offense back, and not give them even an inch to get any closer to that goal.
Because you are a defender.
The defender is the one on the field who’s not out there for all the glory. They’re often forgotten when it comes to game highlights and celebrations because they’re not the ones scoring all the goals or making the passes to the one seeking the scores.
Defenders are the quiet but fierce ones on the field, guarding their net, standing strong before their goalie as the first line of defense. They’re holding the line so when opponents’ scorers come charging in looking for their moment of glory, defenders are there to stop them in their tracks.
They’re the defenders. They’re some of the toughest players on the field, taking and delivering hits. They are the ones who stand in the way of the other team’s victory.
They make the hard stops on the other team’s assault. Their quick hands and feet move for the interception to shut down their opponent’s hope of a win. Causing a turnover, interception, or recovered ball can change the momentum of the game. They can swing the tides back in their team’s favor. They’re not on the field seeking glory—they’re playing for the simple love of the game.
Defenders may not score goals or make passes that propel their team to victory, but you can’t win games without them. They may seem quiet and unassuming there in the back field, but they are ferocious.
Never underestimate the power of the defenders.
by Deborah Plunkett 
