Zonal Defense: Covering Width in Defending Third

Not all zonal defense systems are alike. One of the things that differentiates one zone from another can be how the system covers the width of the pitch, especially in the defensive third of the field. The level of play influences this decision as does the experience, tactical understanding and physical abilities of the individual components of the back line.

We will take a look at three different ideas on how to cover width in the defensive third of the field utilizing a flat back four. In doing so, it is important to note a couple of constants that are present regardless of how we seek to cover of width.

1) A back should not move more than 1 channel away from his own channel.
2) Center backs must remain central.
3) If a center back is more than one channel from his own, who is protecting the goalkeeper at the face of the goal?



In its simplest form the flat back four will have a back designated for each of the four channels on the pitch. Thus a left back will primarily play in the left channel and move to the left central channel if the ball is on the right flank..  The left center back plays in the left center channel and can move one channel in either direction dependent on where the ball is. The right center back plays in the right center channel and can move one channel in either direction. The right back plays in the right channel and can move into the right center channel if the ball is on the left flank.


  

In the above scenario width is covered by the outside defenders and wings (midfielders or forwards). In my opinion this style of zonal defending is best suited to the 4-4-2 formation with the responsibility for width in the defensive third shared by outside backs and wing midfielders.

If used as part of a 4-3-3 formation a couple of different scenarios come into play to cover defensive width with the backs.  First, if the midfield  is comprised of 1 DM and two AM, the DM must remain central protecting the center backs. Therefore the responsibility for ball side width falls to one of (or both) the AM's.  This leaves weak side defensive width to the weak side forward. 

If 2 DM's and one AM comprise the midfield triangle, the responsibility for defensive width in the defending third falls to one of the DM's while the other remains central protecting the center backs. The AM is then in forward support of both DM's.


In the example seen below the defensive channels are defined differently. Note that the central channels are narrowed considerably inside the defenders own penalty area with each extending from the center of the goal to the side of the goal area.  This leaves considerable more width to be covered in the outside channels of the defending third of the field.

 

 



In the 4-4-2 the responsibility for width in the defensive third of the pitch is again shared by outside backs and wing midfielders. Weak side width remains the responsibility of the weak side back and wing midfielders.

However, some teams will elect to drop a center mid into the back line to help cover defensive width.  For example, the ball side center mid may drop in between the two center backs thus allowing the strong side center back to move one channel to ball side. Weak side width remains the responsibility of the weak side back in this scenario.  In this case the weak side wing midfielder pinches in centrally. The effect is a 5 - 3 - 3 defensive shape or a 5-4-1 defensive shape is a forward is asked to withdraw in relation to the mid who withdraws into the back line.

In a 4-3-3 formation playing with a lone DM in front of the center backs both AM's and possibly the strong side wing forward will need to help the outside back cover ball side defensive width on the teams own half of the pitch. The AM's especially will need to play wider in both screening and support roles in front of the outside back.  Weak side width in the defensive third remains with the weak side wing forward in this scenario. The defensive shape would resemble an offset 4-4-2.

If the 4-3-3 formation is played with 2 DM's and one AM the responsibility for width in the defending third is shared between the outside back, one defensive midfielder and the wing forward with the remaining DM remaining centrally in front of the center backs. Here again, a DM could drop into the back line to help cover width and maintain a protective presence in front of the goalkeeper and face of the goal. The responsibility for weak side defensive width remains with the weak side back and the weak side wing forward. The defensive shape resembles a 4-2-3-1


The third, and perhaps most conventional, way to play a zonal system at the high school level see all 4 backs remain within the penalty area in the defensive third of the field. Please note in this case the central channels are even narrower with each being defined as from the center of the goal to a post of the goal.  The outside channels for the backs begin at the edge of the penalty area. This means midfielder wings or wing forwards, possibly a defensive mid will have to help with defending the widest portion of the field in the defending third.

When the 4-4-2 is played in this manner it is the wing midfielder who is responsible for defending width in the defensive third of the field.  A center midfielder,  in concert with the out side back, is then required to be in close support of the wing  midfielder. Weak side width in the defensive third remains with the outside back and wing midfielder.

Another option remains to drop a center midfielder into the back line thus allowing the outside back to cover width further out.  The look then becomes 5-3-2 or 5-4-1 dependent on how the forwards are deployed.

In this scenario and a 4-3-3 formation with one DM who remains central in front of the center backs, the width in the defensive third is the responsibility of the AM's and wing forwards both ball side and weak side.  The effect is a defensive shape more in line with a 4-5-1.

In a 4-3-3 played with two defensive midfielders the defensive shape becomes more of a 4-2-3-1 with defensive width on both ball side and weak side the responsibility of a DM and wing. The Am can be in support of these players or drop back in centrally.  On the weak side it will be the outside back and wing forward with width responsibility.  The defensive shape will be that of a 4-4-2 or a 4-5-1 dependent on the deployment of the AM.

The other option is to drop a defensive midfielder into the back line thus projecting a shape of 5-3-2 or 5-4-1 dependent on how the role of the forwards is defined.


It is crucial for the center backs to remember they are center backs. Their primary responsibility in the defending third is to protect their goalkeeper at the face of the goal. If a center back moves one channel toward ball side, then the remaining center back and outside back must both move one channel as well. This forces an outside midfielder or a wing forward to be responsible for the weak side channel and weak side defensive width.