Edition 28

Welcome to the Soccer Newsletter. Today's issue will deal with defending the wall pass.

Coaches frequently talk about how effective a wall pass is as an offensive weapon (a wall pass is simply a play where Player A passes the ball to Player B and then sprints at which point Player B returns the ball back to Player A. In basketball this pass is referred to as a give and go) but not enough emphasis is put on defending this play. 

The reason a wall pass is effective is that when the initial pass is made from Player A to Player, the tendency is for the player marking Player A to turn and watch the ball rather then concentrate on her primary responsibility which is her mark. When this defender turns her head, she loses track of Player A and this allows for this return pass to have space to be received.

The proper way to defend against a wall pass is for the defender to step back quickly as soon as the first pass is made.  The intention is to get back far enough as to step into the passing lane so that if this returned pass is attempted, the ball will come to you first.

There are times when it is not possible to get this early depth after this initial pass is made.  Luckily, there still is an effective way to prevent this pass from being successfully completed.  As soon as the pass is made from Player A to Player B, Player A will attempt to run by the defender (usually on the far side).  As this pass is made, the defender is entitled to this same path that the attacking player is trying to run through.  If the defender turns with the runner and beats her to the path that the attacker is trying to run in, she will be able to maintain a goal side position which will prevent Player A from receiving the ball and going toward goal.  Some refs might interpret this as obstruction and there is a chance if it is interpreted that way the other team will be awarded a free kick which is probably still less dangerous then if the wall pass had been successfully completed.   Please understand that I am NOT advocating that a player should simply cut off the runner and stop in that path but rather that she should take the same path in order to beat her to the ultimate destination.

If you have any ideas for future newsletters or have any suggestions, please send them to comments@finesoccer.com.

Have a great day

Lawrence