Jan, 2010

BACKS ARE NOT DEFENDERS

Backs are Defenders AND Attackers. Players are NOT second class citizens when participating from the back of the team setup. Backs should be fully integrated at all times and in all phases of play. All players on a team when their team is in possession of the ball are "attackers." All players on a team when their team is not in possession of the ball are "defenders." The purpose of this article is to remind the reader that players who participate in the game from the back of the team have both defensive AND attacking roles, and to provide a basic overview of these roles. This article would also like to encourage the use of language that will support the culture of backs as players fully integrated into the team concept. Grasshopper FC promotes the "total football" concept thru a thoughtful, multi-directional style of play which utilizes all players on the field in all phases of play. We do this to play well and to win matches.

The Impact of Language. Labels for general positions (goalkeeper, back, midfielder, forward) refer simply to the locations of the players relative to one another within the team setup. The terms, attacker, and defender, are used to describe the general roles of players relative to ball possession. This universally accepted terminology reinforces the concept that all players on the field have both attacking and defensive roles. Unfortunately, oftentimes the words "attacker" and "defender" are used as labels for positions. This usage contributes to confusion and a lack of understanding about the roles of players. If backs are referred to as "defenders," it's is likely that players, coaches and parents may believe that backs should be involved mainly when the opposition has the ball. This misuse of terms contributes to the unfortunate stigma around backs having a limited role as "just defenders." Backs, and all members of their team, are attackers when their team has the ball. All players should learn to participate fully in the team's efforts, backs included, and our language needs to support this.

Proper Coaching. It's not just language of course that allows backs to be fully integrated in both defensive and attacking aspects of the game. Coaches need to define roles for the backs that allow them to be more than just "defenders." Role definition needs to take place in training and needs to be reinforced in match play. Even at the youngest ages where kids play without defined positions (e.g., 3v3 mini-soccer) players can begin to learn that all players have attacking roles and defensive roles. As one can see below, even in just a cursory review of the roles of the backs, there is plenty for them to do in the attack. What is more, the backs are truly needed in the attacking effort.

Role of Backs in Possession. When the team takes possession of the ball the backs need to be involved in making the transition to the attack, building the attack, and sustaining the attack. It should be obvious that none of these essential things can be accomplished if a team plays a one-directional game with the backs staying behind, disconnected from the team. Below the three general roles of the backs in the attacking phase are outlined. Each point highlights the connectedness of the backs to the team, and the cooperation of the entire team, of which the backs are an integral part.

Backs in Maintaining Team Possession
- Backs combine with each other, midfielders and goalkeeper to maintain possession during transition from defending to attacking (as team moves into an expansive attacking shape).
- Backs support each other and midfielders to maintain possession as the team moves into the attacking half (provide back-pass options for midfielders to get out of pressure).
Backs in Attacking Movements
- Backs combine with each other and midfielders to change the point of attack (provide options for ball movement to space in another area of the field).
- Backs combine with each other and midfielders to draw opposing players out of a compact defensive shape (provide options for ball movement backwards and sideways to expand spaces b/t opposing players).
- Backs make penetrating passes to midfielders and forwards to quickly transition the team to the attack (before opposing team can assume a compact defensive shape).
- Ball-side wide back combines with midfielders and forwards to get forward into attacking space (make penetrating passes into attacking third, to cross into danger areas, to enter penalty area).
Backs in Sustaining the Attack
- Backs move forward into attacking half to take space away from opposing players (force them back in to their defensive half, leave them in offside space, compress midfield space).
- Backs move forward into attacking half to prepare to defend in the opposing team's half (prevent opposing team from transitioning successfully to attack, win the ball back immediately after losing possession, and restart the attack).

Role of Backs Out of Possession. When the team losses possession of the ball the backs need to be involved in the transition to defending, and in the team efforts to control the opposing teams success with the ball. Again, one can see below that cooperation between the backs and the rest of the team is necessary at all times.

Backs in Transition to Defending
- Backs, along with midfielders and forwards, apply immediate pressure on the ball after possession is lost (prevent opposing team from transitioning successfully to attack, win the ball back immediately after losing possession, and restart the attack).
- Backs, along with midfielders and forwards, move into compact defensive shape, compressing the space in which the opposing forwards and midfielders can operate (prevent opposing team from attacking danger areas - normally central areas of the field).
Backs in Defending to Control
- Backs, along with midfields and forwards, defend to control the play of the opposing team by encouraging and discouraging opposing players to play to areas of the field in keeping with the team's defensive strategy (use thoughtful pressuring, marking, and screening to control the opposition's decision-making).
Backs in Controlling the Danger Area
- Backs constantly adjust the back line to move opposing players away from goal or leave them in an offside position (steal ground together when opposing team cannot make penetrating pass).
- Backs, along with goalkeeper, control the space between the back line and the goalkeeper (combine 1st defender pressure on the ball, 2nd defender coverage of 1st defender, and 3rd defender balance of defensive shape away from the ball).

____________________________________________________________________________________

Grasshopper Football, Grasshopper FC, Grasshopper Academy, and GFC Academy are trademarks or service marks, or registered trademarks or service marks for Grasshopper Football Club.