Teaching Field Invasion Games

What should players who receive the ball do?

They should try to advance the ball as fast as they can into a scoring position or get it to a teammate ahead of them who may have a better chance to score. If neither is possible, they should give the ball to a teammate in the best position to retain possession. This means that they must be encouraged to scan the field of play to decide what to do.

If attackers don't have the ball, what should they do?

They should either get ahead of the ball player and into the space behind defenders as fast as they can to receive the ball or position themselves to support the ball player, thus helping their team to retain possession.

What should defenders try to do?

They should try to stop the ball from being pushed forward quickly, get on the goal side of attackers, and try to regain possession.

How should attackers react to these defensive moves?

They should cut late and fast to the space where they want to receive the pass.

How do defenders counter this?

They try to anticipate where the ball is going to be passed and then move to intercept it.

As defenders try to intercept passes, what do attackers do?

They preced the cut to receive the pass with a fake move in the opposite direction, and then show where they want the ball delivered, on the side away from defender.

If defenders block the ball player's forward move, what they do?

They look to pass the ball to a player cutting from behind them into a dangerous position. While it can be any teammate, it is often the player who gave them the ball in the first place. Termed a give and go, the one-two, or the wall pass, this is very effective tactic in all team sports. The ball is passed to a teammate, and as the defender turns to track the ball, the attacker breaks past them for a return pass.

Excerpt from Play Practice, Human Kinetics.