Shadow Play (continued)
A good practice for defenders and attackers comes when the ball is played back to the goalkeeper – By a member of his own team.
In the diagram (4) running back plays the ball back to his goalkeeper (G).
(G) advances and he has three real options after he arrives at the ball.
(i) (G) can side foot pass it to (2) who has gone wide and made an angle to receive a pass at position (2a)
(ii) (G) can kick it first time for distance towards the half way line where (9) is the most forward player. As the ball is on it’s way (8) runs forward to support (9), as does (7) in a wider position, while (10) drops just behind to add depth to the attack and to receive any lay-back passes from the front players in his team.
(iii) (G) can control the ball, and as if under no pressure he dribbles it around the penalty area until his team are all in position – then he clears for distance.
ONCE AGAIN ITS ALL ABOUT PLAYERS REACTING, THE BLUE (OPPOSITION) FIGURES ARE ON THE DIAGRAM BUT ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THE PRACTICE.
