(1) Backs defence for overlap tactics, and (2) communication between backs

[TDeg]

Hello and thanks for lookign at this post.

There has been a training session this evening. The forwards went off for their session leaving about 14 backs in the squad to train. The following questions came up this evening, any suggestions gratefully received.

(1) Defence against overlap tactics.

The backs played some effectively "sevens" touch, in the drift touch style. That is that when the opposing side have the ball and are about to start play, the defending side must be in a line touching before they can spread out across the field to defend.

So play starts, and the defence starts spreading out to cover gorund. But as the ball gets to the last three or two of the attacking side, the defending side are just arriving and the attackers create overlap with the first from last player in the backs line coming in to field ahead of or behind the second most from last in the line.

The opposing players of the defending side are arriving with a view to marking their opposite number but just as they arrive the attacking side create the overlap.

What defending tactic is there for this overlap created by the attacking side.

(2) Communication between backs.

The coach was calling out to use the full width of the field to the attacking side. The winger was using full width and had space but the outside centre did not look outside him and instead passed back inside to a team player who then ran into the opposition. The winger did call for the pass.

Is it acceptable for the backs to be calling between themselves in this way during play, should these matters be sorted out in training ie awareness, and is there any other effective way of communicating during play apart form shouting, which is rather crude.

Thanks for looking at this post.

 

[Twebby]

In terms of defending against an overlap, an outside blitz defense can sometimes be effective. If players know they are outnumbered then the opposition has to be forced into trying to make a long/speculative pass as their only option to get to the space on the outside. The outside defenders need to rush up on their men while the inside defenders come up at a normal speed, in theory creating an arc in the defense.

Say, for example, you have 10, 12, 13, 14 and 15 attacking, with only 10, 12 and 13 to defend against them. 10 and 12 would go up quickly but together on their opposite men, while 13 would rush up to try and take his attacking player man and ball, or at least get himself in the channel to cut off the pass to the outside. It can also be helpful when defending like this to switch from defending an attacker's inside shoulder (as you might do when using drift defense, to force them towards the touchline) to defending the attacker's outside shoulder. In theory this will naturally push play back inside to where support will be coming from.

The counter to this would be the opposition throwing long passes, possibly over the top of defenders. The defense may not be able to cut these out every time, but at least if you are forcing the oppositon to throw more difficult passes when you are outnumbered, there is more chance of mistakes occuring - or even the odd interception.

 

[TDeg]

Thank you for your reply. The reply is really helpful.

 

[Zed]

The defense may not be able to cut these out every time, but at least if you are forcing the oppositon to throw more difficult passes when you are outnumbered, there is more chance of mistakes occuring - or even the odd interception.

Yeah an effective but potentially risky strategy. Outside the 22, we usually use an 'up & out' defence which works pretty well with everyone drifting aggressively & fullback taking last man. This needs everyone to be on the same page & to trust their inside man. It's great for taking the space away from the attacking 13/15 - the most dangerous channel.