Team Defense "Defending in Blocks"
Any time the team in possession loses the ball there is a transition phase from offense to defense. This shift must occur quickly and the team losing possession must instantly evaluate three things:
1) "Is the ball in front so I can challenge immediately to win the ball back from the defender"?
2) "Can I quickly recover and challenge the defender to prevent an attack"
3) "Am I to far removed from the player in possession to win it back? Is my teammate challenging the counter-attack?" "Where then must I recover to?"
Goals happen when the defense breaks down in the defensive third, however the breakdown almost always begins somewhere else on the field. Though it is less obvious, goals against often begin with a break down in the attacking and middle thirds of play when possession is lost. For a team to properly defend as a unit the entire team must learn to work as one. As one player shifts the rest of the team must adjust accordingly. Throughout a game it is certain that possession will be lost in all thirds of play, therefore a team must be able to play defense in the attacking third, middle third and defensive third.
When defending in zones the concept of defending in blocks is quite useful. Using three blocks; the forward block, the midfield block and the defensive block allows the team to think of playing as three different groups within the larger body of the defense. Furthermore each block is made up of individual roles, so the individual role works within the group of the defensive block and the block works within the larger concept of team defense.
Defending in the attacking third involves the forwards and, at times, the attacking midfielder. The midfielder's responsibility will depend upon the system of play. Defending with two forwards is different than defending with three forwards and responsibilites on defense will change based upon the system of play. The forward's block main role in defending is to dictate play. By using curved runs the forwards can pressure the opponent and force the play in one direction. When one forward is pressure the remaining forwards, and sometimes the attacking halfback, will provide cover and balance. The rest of the team needs to read the work of these defenders and adjust their position accordingly based upon who is more dangerous.
The midfield block is responsible mainly for the defending the opponents midfielders, however at times they will also step to pressure the opponents fullbacks and at time double back to pressure the forwards. The midfield block, when effective, eliminates the long passing lanes on the ground as well as takes away the long reverse in the air.
The defensive block is mainly responsible for defending the forwards and the attacking midfielders. They are also resonsible for stepping and pressuring attacking midfielders in the flanks, if the opponent is attacking unimpeded. Since there are generally four in back, when the opponent attacks with the ball in the flanks the outside fullbacks can step to pressure while still maintaining a strong defensive presence in back as there are three defenders still working behind him. The central backs are generally responsible for marking the opponents forwards. However, when the forwards work wide, the central fullbacks can pass the forwards off to the outside marking backs and maintain a strong defensive integrity. The main role of the defensive block is to prevent the opponent from having quality attacking opportunities.
A secondary goal of the defensive block is to take away attacking space. Whenever possible, usually on a negative ball, the defensive block needs to step and take away space. This forces the opponent to play in a tight space with more defensive pressure making success less likely. As a defense block learns to press they make the jobs of the other blocks easier because they have force play away from their goal and into the concentrated area of the field where the remainder of their teammates are..
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