Defensive Phase subphases

To assess the success or failure of our team's defensive phase, we must first refer to its objective:

• Recover the ball before it is topped.

We must keep in mind that in the face of a perfect offensive game - more than unlikely at the moment - avoiding the completion of the opponent (his success in the initiation and progression sub-phases) would be almost impossible.

The defensive action will therefore be based on taking advantage of the mistakes made on the contrary).

If we fail in this objective we must analyze the different game situations that have manifested themselves during this phase, and detect the mistakes made.

To assess these errors it is necessary previously to have certain the specific objectives of each line and each demarcation for each of the 4 defensive sub-phases that manifest themselves in each UC, and that can only be set using the control/positional game style in attack.

The specificity of the work to be done will depend to a large extent (in addition to the characteristics of our "way of play" (System, Style, characteristics of our players,...) of the different aspects that the opposite poses in its offensive phase:

• The game system used.
  • The number of players on each line, relative to our lines in defense (structure).
  • Control (associative/positional).
  • Long/direct.
  • Short to long.

  The coach (taking into account these aspects of the opposite) must determine the objectives and defensive forms by lines and by demarcations for each of the 4 sub-phases of the defensive game:

  • In Sub-Phases 1, 2, 3: Objective to recover the ball.
  • In sub-phase 4: Avoid finishing.

  In this way, if our defensive forms (of the team, of each line and of each demarcation) in each sub-phase are appropriate and executed correctly, they must cause success in relation to the objectives envisaged (for the team, for each line and for each demarcation).

  If the design of the established objective forms are consistent and allow defensive success, we can assess objectively.

  The success of each of the sub-phases of the defensive game analyzed.

  This success will be caused by the correct realization (collective decision -foundations-/structure designed and/or execution: tactical aspects) of defensive actions in relation to defensive objectives (of the team, of each line and of each demarcation - avoid the effective game of the opposite, recover the ball, and / or avoid the finish of the opposite-).

  Failure in the sub-phases of the defensive game analyzed. This analysis will allow us to detect the errors(design, decision and / or execution) that may have been made in each of the defensive actions in relation to the defensive objectives (of the team, of each line and of each demarcation - avoid the effective play of the opposite, recover the ball, and / or avoid the finish of the opposite-).

  Examples:

  • If we recover the ball in sub-phase 4, we will analyze the mistakes made in sub-phase 0, 1, 2 and 3 (which are the ones that will have allowed control, the ball by the opponent in each of them).
  • If the opposite succeeds in finishing (finisher/centre), we will analyze the mistakes made in sub-phase 4, in addition to the rest. 

  Defensive Sub-Phase 0: 

  Our team is in its offensive phase (in attacking tasks).

  • Players who are not in the orientation of the game and/or do not intervene directly or indirectly in the offensivegame will be more closed and behind in relation to their line.
  • These players must express a defensive surveillance intention/orientation in order to intervene with an advantage in the face of a loss of our team, as set out in the basics:
  • LD players will under no circumstances play ahead of the ball.
  • LM players will never wait for the ball ahead of their line.

  If we respect these aspects (set out in the FUNDAMENTS/CONSIGNAS of the Collective Game in attack), in case of loss of the ball these players will be able to intervene with advantage in relation to the rapid attack or counterattack that can start the opponent when recovering the ball, and will always reach our defensive zone before the opponents of their lines.

  In this way we would avoid, in the attack/defense transition, that the opposite could take advantage of our defensive imbalance.

  Let's look at an example of the possible objectives to be proposed for our team, in the event that we play with the P.4.4.2 system:

  SUBFASE 1	Our team loses possession of the ball, in our progression zone, by stealing the opponent, with the ball at stake.
  Team	Objective: to avoid effective control of the ball by the opposing party and in the latter case prevent them from performing an effective counterattack or rapid attack. At best, get the ball back. Action: change of attitude and offensive situation defensively.
  Line losing the ball	Objective: to avoid effective counter play in ball recovery. Action: pressure on the opposing holder who has recovered the ball, short coverage to the teammate who performs the pressure, elimination of pass lines (search for interception lines) to the holder's teammates.
  Line of attack	Objective: to prevent the holder from linking with his most backward companions and/or goalkeeper. Action: Closes pass lines to opponents in the Game Orientation.
  Defensive line	Objective: to avoid receiving the ball by one of the opposing tips and avoid being overwhelmed by in-depth pitches. Action: retreat to the given area, "fixation" and/or individual marking to the forward tips and reverse of the "free" or second center, to perform great coverage.

   

  SUBFASE 2	The opposite controls the ball in his field.
  >Team	Objective: to prevent the opponent from controlling the ball in our field. Action: Retract all equipment to the established area. Defensive surveillance.
  Line of attack	Objective: to avoid the incorporation of an opponent of the LD with ball and unchecked to our field. Action: perform a work of great coverage and vigilance over the two adversaries that correspond to your area.
  Media line	Objective: to prevent players in the opposing LM from controlling the ball effectively in our field. Action: zonal marking, pressing the player who receives from behind, and removing pass lines to the opposite medium behind us.
  Defensive line	Objective: To prevent opposing LA and LM players in your area from controlling the ball effectively. Action: press the player who receives from behind (in front of in-depth pitches), intense retreat from the line, and great coverage of the specialist center.

   

  SUBFASE 3	The opposite controls the ball on our field.
  Team	Objective: Avoid effective control of the opposite in the end zone (our defensive zone). Action: Intense retreat to the front of the area. Ball recovery. Apply the set marking shapes.
  Line of attack	Objective: Monitor and mark the defender who joins the attack, and manifest a correct Offensive Disposition (OJ). Action: The player who shortly supports a recovery of the ball "follows" the opposing LD player who joins the attack (since the other tip will be the one who manifests DO).
  Media line	Objective: Avoid being overwhelmed. Action: Surveillance/fixation with proper orientation and distances so as not to be overwhelmed ely by the ball or on the contrary, reducing the distance on the contrary and increasing the speed of the marking, as it approaches our defensive zone.
  Defensive line	Objective: Prevent an opposing player from receiving the ball within our defensive zone. Action: Defend zonally diagonally with cover and surveillance in our defensive zone. Avoid being outside our defensive zone (counter-header zone), when the ball is or reaches it.

   

  SUBFASE 4	The opposite effectively controls the ball within our defensive zone.
  Team	Objective: Avoid the center and/or effective finish of the opposite in the end zone. Action: Intense retreat to the front of the area. Intense pressure. Elimination of spaces.
  Line of attack	Objective: Monitor and mark the defender who joins the attack, and manifest a correct Offensive Disposition (OJ) in the face of a recovery of the ball or clearing. Action: The player who shortly supports a recovery of the ball "follows" the opposing LD player who joins the attack (since the other tip will be the one who manifests DO).
  Media line	Objective: Avoid the center and/or effective counter-counter finish in the end zone. Action: Intense pressure marking unlike in our area, maintaining numerical superiority of our LD within our finishing area.
  Defensive line	Objective: Prevent an opposing player from receiving the ball within our defensive zone. Action: Defend zonally, with cover and surveillance in our finishing area. Avoid being outside the finishing area when the ball is or is going to enter it.

  We can extend to the smallest detail each of the aspects mentioned (both individually and collectively, mentioning the decision-making and/or implementation aspects...).

  The above is just one example of the approach to be established in our defensive organization.