Third Defender "Balance"

The first defender pressures the ball and forces the play in one direction. The second defenders provide cover to the first defender. Therefore, the third defenders are all players that are neither the first defender or one of the second defenders. They are the players that balance out the defense, taking away penetrating passes while positioning themselves in the most advantageous manner. As the attack shifts, so does the role and position of the third defenders.

The third defenders must be continually aware of where they are on the field in relation to where the opponent is and where the ball is; this is what dictates their positioning. They should at all time be able to see the ball, and see the man. When the third defender can see both the ball and his man he is most likely in proper positioning. These defenders must be aware of what is happening on the ball and off of it. Is the first defender doing his job and forcing one way? Has he been beaten? Is the opponent trying to make a run behind the defense? By continually being aware and adjusting his position, the third defender is putting himself in a position to both prevent a goal and win the ball and begin the counterattack.

Often the term "tucked in" or "pinched in" is used to refer to the balance position. Examples include when the ball is on the outside right and the outside left midfielder is tucked in. If the ball is with the right full back, the left forward will pressure the ball, the striker will be covering him and the third forward will be tucked such that he can step and win any through balls. Some examples of third defender positioning are below. Though they explain the whole field, notice within every smaller grouping of players is the first, second, third defender concept. Therefore, train in small numbers to introduce the concepts of pressure, cover, and balance, then apply it to the whole field.

Scenario 1: Ball with opponents left fullback. Left fullback, left midfielder tuck in.

The team in blue is on defense in the 4-4-2. The opponents left fullback is in possession.

• The right forward is pressuring the ball showing to cover.
• The left forward is covering him as the 2nd defender, and marking their center defender.
• The left midfielder and left fullback are tucked into balance, forming the middle block.
• These players can tuck in because the players they are marking are not dangerous; they are on the opposite side of the field.
• The two central defenders work together with the outside defenders to mark the forward in pressure, cover and balance.
  
  

Scenario 2: Ball with opponents left fullback who plays to his right fullback.

In this scenario the left fullback has just played a long ball to the right fullback and the blue team shifts (blue arrows).

• The left forward goes to pressure the ball, the striker provides cover.
• The left midfielder steps to the now dangerous outside midfielder and the left fullback steps to the now dangerous forward (who worked over).
• The right fullback tucks in to balance.
• The central fullbacks track with the forwards and pass him to the left fullback as the forward works outside.
• The right midfielder tucks in to balance, his mark (their left halfback) is not dangerous with the ball away).
• The right forward tucks in to balance, his mark, (their left fullback is not dangerous with the ball away)
  
  

Scenario 3: Penetrating Ball to the opponents central midfielder: Right side tucks in.

In this scenario the forward was slow working over and the fullback found the center midfielder.

• The center midfielder steps to pressure
• The other center midfielders drops to provide cover
• The left midfielder drops in to provide cover
• The midfield block now forms a “V” (dotted blue line)
• The center fullback steps to mark the center forward
• The left fullback provides some cover but can step to the forward still
• The right fullback balances everything out
• The right midfielder is still tucked in to balance
• The defensive block is on a diagonal (dotted blue line)

Scenario 4: Opponents left fullback attacking: Blue adjusting in a 3-4-3

The team in blue is on defense in the 3-4-3 The left fullback is in possession. The right forward is pressuring the ball, the striker is covering him (and marking their central defender).

• The left forward is tucked in to balance.
• The left midfielder is also tucked in to balance.
• The left fullback is also tucked in to balance.
• They can tuck in because they players they are "marking" are not dangerous, they are on the opposite side of the field.

Scenario 5: Opponents left fullback reverses field: Blue adjusts in a 3-4-3

The left fullback plays a long ball to the right fullback.

The entire team shifts over. The left forward goes to pressure the ball, the striker provides cover. The left midfielder steps to the now dangerous outside midfielder and the left fullback steps to the now dangerous forward (who worked over).

• The right fullback tucks in to balance.
• The right midfielder tucks in to balance. His mark is not dangerous with the ball on the right.
• The right forward tucks in to balance. His mark is not dangerous with the ball on the right.

Scenario 3: Penetrating Ball to the opponents midfielder: In a 3-4-3, the right side tucks in

In this scenario the forward was slow working over and the fullback found the center midfielder.

• The center midfielder steps to pressure
• The other center midfielders drop to provide cover
• The left midfielder drops to provide cover
• The midfield block now forms a “V” (dotted blue line)
• The center fullback steps to mark their center forward
• The left fullback provides cover but can still step to the forward
• The right fullback balances.
• The right midfielder is tucked in to balance

The defensive block is on a diagonal (dotted blue line)

Defensive Sets