Defending to Attack

The ideas represented here are from an article originally presented to me by Graham Ramsay that I later edited and adapted for presentation to one of my teams. We played zonal defense so the approach to defending and regaining possession is with that in mind.

DEFENDING TO ATTACK

 

There are two reasons to defend; 1) To prevent the opponent from scoring and 2) to win the ball and begin an attack so that we can score. Making positive decisions when defending is the key to winning R.P.’s that can be a deciding factor in winning a game. What is an R.P.? An R.P. is a REGAINED POSSESSION – or winning the ball back when it has been lost.

 

How do we win R.P.’s?

 

1) INTERCEPTING AN OPPONENTS PASS. Great defenders are either detectives or thieves, and smart or devious. They live for interceptions, not only to regain possession but to immediately go on the attack. They think interception and attack in the same thought. Be tricky, make the opponents believe the pass is open and then jump into the passing lanes to intercept the ball. If you are smart, you will recognize clues the passer will give you; 1) the passers eyes will drop to the ball and 2) the passers body language will betray him – their plant step and wind up to strike the ball. You may even be able to read the attackers eyes to know the direction of the pass about to be made - he is likely to look last at the target he is preparing to pass to.

 2) DELAY THE BALL. Contain and pressure. If you cannot intercept the pass then your job is to contain.

The 1^st defender, the defender closest to the ball, needs to contain the opponent in possession of the ball. Slow down the speed of the opponents attack by getting the ball carrier to look down. You must get close enough to threaten a tackle. The magic distance is four feet. The 1^st defenders responsibility is 1) contain the ball carrier, 2) slow the attack and 3) help set the R.P. trap.

 

The 2^nd defenders form the base of a triangle behind the 1^st defender. These players help the 1^st defender to contain and slow the opponents attack and are the players most likely to spring the R.P. trap and intercept the ball. The 2^nd defenders help to take away space around the ball carrier by cutting off the closest forward passing angles.

 All other defenders help the 1^st and 2^nd defenders contain the opponents attack by strangling and tightening the space around their 1^st & 2^nd defender teammates. Remember that space = time to play the ball. The less open space the opponents have to play in the quicker they must play and the more likely they are to make mistakes.

3) TACKLE TO WIN. Contain and be patient – remember that time is your teammate. WAIT for their “big move.” Always remember that when the ball is between your opponent’s feet you can be beaten to either side – do not make your self small by stabbing at the ball, be patient. Your 1^st responsibility to your teammates is to contain and slow the speed of the attack. When the ball carrier goes to make his “big move” and plays the ball outside of his feet is the time to make your move to tackle and win the ball. You must be determined and expect to win the ball but do not foul.

4) FOULING is about losing and a very cheap way to allow the opponents to win R.P.’s. And in the area closest to the goal we are defending, free-kicks often result in goals being scored by our opponents. WE NEVER WANT TO HELP THE OTHER TEAM WIN.