The Success Factors of Rest Defense in Football
In a groundbreaking expedition led by Leander Forcher and his team, we dive headfirst into the captivating world of football’s defensive maneuvers. This isn’t your average study — it’s an exploration into the tactical ideas of football’s minds, armed with insights from experienced coaches and the precision of data analytics drawn from 153 games of the 2020/21 Bundesliga season.
The goal?
To unravel the subtle dance of players positioning themselves against the relentless tide of counterattacks during possession.
A mixed-methods approach was used, involving both qualitative and quantitative analysis. Initially, interviews with professional soccer coaches were conducted to define rest defense. The interviews outcomes unveiled rest defense as “the strategic positioning of the deepest defenders during ball possession”.
In assessing rest defense, all players (attackers and defenders) within the area ten meters in front of the defender closest to the own goal line were considered. Their mission? To thwart opposing counterattacks post ball loss.
With the quantitative analysis, we are then able to delve into the intricate workings of football’s defensive strategy. According to Forcher research, swiftly regaining the ball after a loss clearly becomes your defensive stalwart, as it prevents opponent attacks in the blink of an eye, as one could expect.
But here’s the true enchantment, it’s not merely about speed; it’s about wielding possession like a shield — strategic control. Picture orchestrating an orchestra in the rest defense area, a symphony of players strategically positioned to defy counterattacks. The art lies in denying space control to opposing attackers, smartly controlling deep spaces and areas around dangerous counter-attackers.
It’s about crafting not just a team but a masterpiece — an organized, compact force with a lower spread and higher compactness in spatial formation.
In summary, this isn’t a just mere statistical expedition, it’s an exploration an into football’s defensive intricacies that offers a comprehensive guide to a more sustained rest defense. It’s not just about playing fast; it’s about mastering possession, while smartly orchestrating defensive positions.
References:
(1) Leander Forcher, Leon Forcher, Stefan Altmann, Darko Jekauc, Matthias Kempe. (2023) The Success Factors of Rest Defense in Soccer — A Mixed-Methods Approach of Expert Interviews, Tracking Data, and Machine Learning. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (22), 707–725. https://doi.org/10.52082/jssm.2023.707