Basic Ideas for Coaching Zonal Defending

Tom Turner, OYSAN Director of Coaching and Player Development

January 2002

Basic Concepts

Coaching players to understand zonal defending can be a relatively simple matter, with
the “big picture” concepts built around the idea that a team must try to stay in its’
assigned “attacking” formation (shape) and move as a block when defending. In general,
teams will vary the depth, or starting point, at which they begin to defend, based on the
tactical situation before them (the number of attackers and defenders in the immediate
area), the relative strengths and weaknesses of each team, the score, the time remaining,
the field and climactic conditions, the red card situation, and the importance of the final
outcome.

Zonal defending is more practical and efficient than strict man-to-man marking, although
individual marking assignments often complement zonal organizations. A zonal defense
can be implemented with any attacking formation; however, the line of confrontation
(starting point) will be influenced, to a degree, by the number of players on the field (red
card situation) and the number of players in the forward line, as it is obviously much
more difficult to press with one striker than with three! Regardless of which formation is
used, and assuming teams of eleven, the basic visual cues for the team to begin to
implement a zonal defensive system are as follows:

1. Goalkeeper Possession. When the opposing goalkeeper has possession, all defending
players protect the middle of the field and concede outlet passes to the flanks. The
simplest rules of thumb are for the strikers to drop off to the beginning of the midfield
third, for the backs to adopt positions where they can attack any punts before they
bounce, and for the wide players to push towards the center of the field. This picture,
with both teams playing 4-4-2 and the X’s defending, can be seen in Figure 1, below.

2. Wide Player Possession. When the ball is on one side of the field, the players closest
to the ball move to constrict the near-side space, while the players on the weak (far) side
move towards the center of the field and leave opponents farthest from the ball
unmarked. In Figure 2, below, both teams are playing 4-3-3, the X’s are defending, and
the O’s right back is in possession.
Figure 1

GK
.

o
o o o

x x
xo
o x o x o
x
o
x o x x x

GK

In Figure I, the X team has “dropped off” and “tucked in” to protect the center of the field.

Figure 2

GK

o o
o x x o
. x
o
x o
x
x
o o
x o o
x x x

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In Figure 2, the X team has moved towards the left (ball) side as a block.
 Building the Details

Once the players understand the basic visual cues for forming and moving as a block, the
coaching must focus on the details of zonal defending in order to improve the quality and
consistency of individual and team play. Understanding the details can take many weeks,
months and even years for players to apply “naturally” within the flow of a game, and it
should be remembered that the practical distinctions between zonal and man-to-man
defending often become blurred within the flow of the game.

Outlined below are the themes most common to zonal defending.

Recovering Behind the Ball.

If and when the opponents break pressure by switching the ball to the weak side of the
field, the line of recovery for players played out of the game is a diagonal run backwards
and towards the ball side. In Figure 3, both teams are playing 4-4-2 and the O’s (who are
playing from top to bottom) have succeeded in switching the ball from the right back to
the left back. At this point, the X forwards are behind the ball and their line of recovery
is backwards and towards the right side of their team. In this instance, the O’s have
succeeded in gaining territory and forcing the X’s to drop deeper towards their own goal.

Figure 3

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o o
o x x o
.
o
o x x
x x (RM)
o o

x o o
x x x (RB)

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Figure 3 shows the immediate responsibility of the wide X players when the O team breaks pressure.
Rotating on the Weak Side
In the example shown in Figure 3, the X forwards are no longer able to pressure the ball
so the X team must concede attacking space and drop further back. In this situation, the
X’s will begin to defend through their midfielders, with the right midfielder (RM)
responsible for pressing onto the ball and the right back (RB) responsible for covering the
O’s left midfielder. This action is only tactically viable, however, when the rest of the X
team has worked across the field to cover the remaining open spaces. If the right
midfielder pushes forward before cover has arrived, he or she is likely to be played out of
the game by the left back and the O’s will have an excellent opportunity to quickly attack
goalward. As a general rule, the further the ball is from goal, the less important it is to
needlessly press forward on the weak side when the first line of confrontation has been
breached.

Pressuring and Making Play Predictable

Assuming the ball cannot be recovered immediately, the secondary tactical goals for any
defense are to make the game as predictable as possible and then win the ball back. These
aims are achieved by coaxing the ball towards attacking spaces limited by defenders and
the sidelines, or by funneling the attack into more central spaces where covering
defenders are available to help win the ball. A critical element in the defending process
is the challenging player’s mentality; a second consideration is their speed and angle of
approach.

Defensive Mentality
Because of the open spaces created when attacking, a team is most vulnerable to counter-
attacks when the ball is first turned over. For this reason, all players must be willing to
accept their defensive responsibilities when the ball is turned over. If the closest player to
the ball can immediately regain possession (first objective), or hurry an opponent (second
objective), or steer the attack in a predictable direction (third objective), the chances of
successfully recovering the ball are improved; in contrast, if there is no closing down,
there will be no coordinated recovery of the ball. All players must be willing to defend.

Recovery of the ball is also made more likely if teammates “read” that the chance to
regain possession, or press, is “on,” and quickly move into good covering (close) and
balancing (peripheral) positions. When possession is won, the team should immediately
look to counter-attack; if no counter-attack is possible, the team should spread out into an
attacking shape and begin their build-up.

Pressuring Speed and Angle

The speed and angle with which a player defends can also help increase the chances of
successful recovery. At the moment the ball has been turned over, the faster an opponent
is pressured, the less time they will have to look up and play a long pass; by immediately
pressuring the ball, the risk of counter-attack will be reduced. As the defensive action
becomes less immediate and more coordinated, players responsible for starting to
pressure must be more aware of their speed and angle of approach.
The role of the forwards in organized team defending is generally to steer the play
towards covering teammates, not to win the ball. With this in mind, the speed and angle
of their approach, the distance they close to, and their spacing as a line of two or three,
will be designed to reduce the likelihood of backward or sideways passes that can
eventually result in a switch in the point of attack. If the ball stays on one side of the
field, the forwards will have achieved their immediate aim and the movement of the ball
will have become more predictable for the midfielders and defenders.

The rules of engagement change for the midfielders and defenders, whose objective is to
deny opponents space and win the ball. While the general rule is to deny forward
penetration by passing or dribbling, often a midfielder or defender’s speed and angle of
approach will “invite” the attacker in possession to continue dribbling in the same
direction (more predictable for teammates) or pass into a tight or crowded space.
Winning the ball is always the primary goal of defending, but keeping the ball in areas of
the field where space is limited, or forcing the ball backwards to allow numbers to be
organized behind the ball are the key secondary concerns of organized defending.

Compactness and Balance

The distance from the back of the team to the front of the team, and from side to side,
determines how much space is available to the opponents. If the defending team decides
to “press” the ball, when, for example, the right back is under pressure in a corner of the
field, the back line should move towards the ball (compacting) and the players on the
right side of the team should move inside (balancing), leaving the vulnerable spaces
behind the team and on the right flank. The distance between and within the three lines
(depth) is based on the skill level of the opponents: How far can they kick the ball? Can
they play quickly and skillfully enough to break pressure? How fast are the forwards
relative to the defenders? It is also based on the ability of the defending team to close
down the ball in a tactically sensible way. If there is no pressure on a player who can pass
60 yards to the opposite side of the field, it makes no sense to commit players to the ball
and leave spaces that cannot be defended. This concept is most evident when watching
professional matches where defenders are more hesitant to routinely “squeeze” the game
because the attackers are more able to combine out of pressure, or solve the problem of
pressure by making long, accurate passes; it is the long balls played horizontally or
diagonally across the field that require long recovery runs and pose the greatest tactical
threat to teams that play very compact zonal defense.

In many cases, defending teams will start the process of recovering the ball closer to the
halfway line to minimize the amount of open space behind their defenders. More often
than not, the professional approach to defending is simply to vary the starting depth for
defending, based on the game situation (time and score) and the likelihood of recovering
the ball.

Tactical Cues for Pressing

One of the most aggressive options in the strategies of team defending is the decision to
press the opponents in their own half of the field. This tactic can be designed to force
more punts, or to win the ball back earlier, or to purposely change the tempo of the game.
There are a number of basic tactical cues that signal that the press is “on” and players
should become familiar with these through regular and consistent practice. Some of the
most common pressing situations are listed below.

• When an opponent is running towards his or her own goal line and has not
secured possession, there is relative security in pressing forward as a group.

• When there is a throw-in deep in the opponent’s end and the thrower does not
have great range, there is relative security in pressing forward as a group.

• When the ball is in the last third of the field during open play and the attacking
team has numbers in that area, there is relative security in staying high and
pressing as a group if the ball is turned over.

• When a defender takes a very poor first touch, or makes a poor pass or clearance
that places a teammate in trouble, there is relative security in pressing forward as
a group.

• If the ball is in the air or bouncing awkwardly in the final third of the field, there
is relative security in pressing forward as a group.

• Following a restart, such as a free kick or corner kick, any partially cleared ball
presents an opportunity to press the game in the final third.

• When the ball is played to a goalkeeper with poor kicking skills, or to their
weaker side, there is relative security in pressing forward as a group.

Finally, it should be remembered that the line of confrontation must be based on the
status of the game and the tactical situation in the game. Pressing, as a matter of course, is
too predictable and too demanding physically, so varying the starting point for defending
is a much more subtle and efficient way to defend.

Passing Off
Under most circumstances, the team’s defensive shape should remain recognizable and,
when possible, opponents should be “passed off” to teammates in the same line (back,
midfield, or forward) as they move horizontally, across the field; or passed off to other
lines as they move vertically, up and down the field. This passing off serves to maintain
good defensive shape, but the decision to pass a player off is generally dictated by the
timing of the attacker’s run relative to the movement of the ball, the relative numbers
(attackers and defenders) in the line behind, and the immediate threat to the goal. A
team’s starting shape is meant as a guide, not a recipe, and it is never wise to insist on the
rigid alignment of players either in attack or in defense; the game of soccer is simply too
fluid to be played by formula.
Flattening Out
Another important consideration is the “flattening out” of the back line. When a team
“squeezes” the game, the back line must “step up” to minimize the space the attackers
have to play in. As a rule of thumb, the back line should move up in relation to the
passing length of the other team. If the opponent’s cannot easily kick the ball over the
defender’s heads, their starting positions are probably correct. However, if the defensive
line is constantly turning to run down long passes and conceding dangerous break-a-way
opportunities, their starting position (depth) is probably too shallow.

Playing the Offside Game

Consideration must also be given to offside tactics. In general, attacking players making
early runs into offside space should be allowed to run offside, while players making well-
timed runs must be tracked. This decision is often a matter of experience.

In classic “offside trap” situations, the defense can look to step forward as a coordinated
unit, or the last defender can step forward on his or her own when an attacker runs
forward before the ball is kicked. In either case, the focused coach must be alert in
encouraging thoughtful movement and making the correct offside calls in practice. While
teams will vary the depth at which they flatten out (based on personnel, formation and
strategy), virtually all teams will look to flatten out as the game is played closer to their
own goal, with the understanding that the goalkeeper should act as the covering player. It
is bordering on tactical suicide to routinely play with a high back line and an offside trap.

A final element involving offside space and a flattening back line comes into play when
teams are defending in their own half, and particularly when they are defending deep in
their own penalty box. In these situations, the team should always look to step forward
when the attacking team plays the ball backwards away from goal. Further down field,
this movement serves to keep the team compact; if the defense has been backed up inside
their penalty area, moving forward helps create pressure on the ball and provides the
goalkeeper with more space and a better view of any shots.

The Goalkeepers Role

Given the principle of compactness, the amount of space created between the defensive
line and their own goal is proportional to the line of confrontation; it also follows that
defending high in the opponents half of the field increases the risk of conceding break-a-
way opportunities. When a team is employing pressing tactics, the integrity of the
defensive organization is more likely to be maintained when the goalkeeper fulfills the
role of the “sweeper-keeper,” with the concept of “starting position” key to successfully
defending against through balls. If the starting position is too close to the goal when the
defenders fail to clear a long pass, as shown in Figure 4 below, the attackers will have
more time and space to outrun the defenders and challenge the goalkeeper.
Figure 4.

x o
x x x
o

GK

In Figure 4, the goalkeeper’s starting position is too deep to cover a through ball and the attacker has time
and space to outrun the defenders.

If the starting position is further from goal (Figure 5), the goalkeeper is often better
positioned to intercept the through ball and either clear to safety or seek to maintain
possession.

Figure 5.

x o
x x x
o

.
GK

In Figure 5, the goalkeeper has started further from the goal line and is well-positioned to reach the through
ball and diffuse the break-a-way threat.

The goalkeepers starting position must be based, not only on the position of teammates,
but also on the ball’s distance from goal and the level of pressure exerted on the player
with the ball. At the top levels, many players can accurately kick the ball 60 yards or
more. This means that if the goalkeeper wanders too far off his or her line and there is no
pressure on the opponent with the ball, there is an increased risk of being chipped. In all
cases, the goalkeepers starting position must balance the need to help defenders deal with
the threat of through balls while being cognizant of the threat of long pass into goal. The
goalkeeper’s physical dimensions, the level of play, and experience will all help
determine “good” starting positions.

The Importance of the Training Ground

Developing awareness of individual and small-group defensive tactics can and should be
developed through small-sided games, with the instincts for pressuring and recovering
developed early on in life following natural transitions in possession. As “team” tactics
become more relevant, around the early teen years, the concepts of compactness, pressing
and varying the line of confrontation can become more related to the quality of
performance and the outcome of practice games and live matches.

At players reach the age of ten and eleven, an offside line should become a common
feature of practice, and the practice should include realistic soccer situations rather than
drills. Moving the offside line to various depths can help players experience the natural
cues required to step up or drop off as a team, or flatten out at the back.

With smaller-sided games of up to 5v5, an offside line 10-12 yards from goal is ideal;
with larger numbers, the use of different looks will force players to create variable
solutions to common problems. For example, if the offside line is at the halfway line on a
90-yard field (8v8), there will often be more space behind the defenders if the team has
stayed connected in attack. In this case, flattening out without pressure on the ball, or not
tracking a well-timed attacking run, can be dangerous tactical mistakes. On the other
hand, an offside line closer to the goal (20 yards) on a 90 yard field (8v8) concedes space
in front of the defenders and creates different defensive problems, such as closing down
attackers checking into space between the back line and the midfield line. As an added
tactical bonus, using offside lines in practice forces attackers to react in more
sophisticated ways if they hope to outwit their teammates and score.

It has been noted that “team shape” is a term used to describe the numerical organization
of players by line. To develop a working understanding of how individual players defend
within an organized team shape, practicing with reduced versions of 11-a-side systems
can be most helpful. For example, a team playing 3-4-3 might play 8v8 games in practice
with the players organized as 2-3-2, or they may play 9v9 with the players organized as
2-4-2. If the preferred system was 4-4-2, the practice game might be 9v9 with the players
organized 3-3-2. For a 4-3-3 system, nine players can be organized as 3-2-3. In all cases,
the practice situation should closely resemble the match situation, with players organized
into roles and the game providing the tactical cues for action.