Organisation
11 v 11.
4-3-3 v's 4-4-2.
Balls around the pitch and in goals.
Positioning
The sweeper should remember to position himself:
- between the ball and the penalty spot-when the play
is ahead/in front of the sweeper and in the 'funnel' of defending.
- between the ball and the 6yd line when the ball is
in wide attacking third position.
Diagram 1
|
Diagram 2
|
As the location of the ball changes, so the sweeper adjusts his position accordingly
providing he remains a free player and not involved in marking duties. The above
guidelines (and they are only that) will help a sweeper to position himself.
Further influences on a sweepers position will be:
- the distance the ball is away from goal
- the playing situation, e.g. attackers movements having broken free of markers.
- The position of the goalkeeper.
The distance the ball is away from goal
e.g. If the ball is in our attacking third then
the sweeper can move the defence forward up to the halfway line and take
position alongside the other back defenders or slightly behind them. If
he does not 'compress' the team shape, the opponents may stretch our team
and create more space for themselves to play on gaining possession. Space
and time is usually to the attacking teams advantage.
From this distance the ball is unlikely to be delivered behind the defence
to cause an imminent problem to the team and should there be any indication
that such a pass will be delivered the sweeper and his fellow defenders
can:
- Drop towards their own goal quickly to reduce the chance of the ball
being received by an attacker, behind the defending line.
- Hold a defending line, refuse to drop back or even move forward in
a co-ordinated rehearsed manner to trap opponents offside.
By compressing the play and reducing distances between front and back
lines, the opposition have less space in which to operate and pressurising
as a tactic by the defending team is likely to become more effective.
If the opposition have possession of the ball in their defending middle
third of the field then the sweepers role will be to provide cover or
security for tight marking defenders adhead of him. |
 |
The sweepers position will be between the ball and the penalty spot and approximately
some 10-15 yds behind markers X5 and X4. Strikers 09 and 010 are likely to make
support positions to receive passes from rear defenders, e.g. 02. They should
be tightly marked by defenders whose positioning and movements will largely
be dictated by the strikers actions. The sweeper places himself in such a position
that if he does not deter passes from being delivered behind the defence, he
can move to intercept any passes played beyond rear defenders. On moving to
cut-out any passes made behind the defenders he may have to decide how to act
on a time/situation basis and gain possession to create attacks, play safely
as required if under pressure, or pass back to support the goalkeeper as necessary.
The distance 10-15 yds behind the nearest marker in the situation shown is approximate
and will vary from player to player and team to team. However this distance,
the sweeper can move to intercept passes beyond markers, read the play as it
develops, collect any free runners to the back of the defence and can communicate
and comanise the team ahead of him. A basic guideline for the sweeper in this
situation is not to sweep beyond the distance that the ball can be delivered.
If the opposition have possession of the ball in the attacking third,
the sweeper need not position himself any deeper than the edge of the
penalty box and should be in a position to assist other defenders who
are in need of support and be able to move forward to defend as needed.
The goalkeeper should be ready and prepared to cover the space between
himself and the sweeper should the ball be delivered in there within his
range of operation and also other defenders will cover and mark any opponnets
who attempt to move into those spaces to receive passes. From the position
shown in the diagram, the sweeper is able to come forward to meet any
unopposed attacker who threatens the goal with the ball. From the position
shown by diagram, the sweeper can read the play and move quickly to pressurise
the ball, cover team-mates, give information to team-mates and also establishes
a 'line' for the defence beyond which any attackers would be in offside
position. The sweeper keeps in line with the ball and the penalty spot
is but now is flatter (i.e. not so deep behind markers) in his support
position and relationships with co-defenders. |
|
When the ball is wide
When the ball is in the attacking third, the sweeper if not required to move
out from the central position to pressurise the player in possession or intercept
passes, should position himself to counter any cross.
| In this diagram, our flank-back X3 is opposed by 07 in possession
but is supported by X11 our midfield player. In this situation, sweeper
X6 can position himself to cut out any cross from 07 or 02. Providing that
attackers in the penalty box are marked and no opponents are free and moving
into the scoring areas, the sweeper should position himself just ahead of
a line drawn out from the near post to the edge of the penalty box and approximately
six yards from goal. |
|
From this position the sweeper may intercept crosses that are not sufficiently
high enough to reach far post areas and may also intercept hard, low driven
crosses before they pass across the face of the goal. Once more, early and decisive
communication from the goalkeeper is helpful in attending to the situation effectively
as the cross is delivered. Should the ball be passed backwards by 07 to 02 then
the sweeper may move forward, accompanied by his other defenders, possibly 4-5
yds depending on the time and the distance that the ball travels 02. He may
also move to cover team-mates in 1 v 1 situations in the shooting areas and
pressurise the ball if needed, as it is moved across or around the edge of the
penalty area.
The Goalkeeper
The goalkeeper-sweeper relationship is a crucial factor
in any successful sweeper system. Verbal and positional relationships are vital
to establish and if successfully completed will avoid much confusion. The confusion
arises when basic guidelines for performance are absent.
| In this situation, the goalkeepers position will be around
the edge of the six yard box. If the sweeper was to position himself say
10 yds behind X4 then both the keeper and the sweeper would be so close
to each other that if any pass was made into the penalty box, confusion
as to responsibility for dealing with that threat may ensue. If the sweeper
positions himself around the edge of the penalty box he can support team-mates
exposed in 1 v 1 situations in the scoring areas, can come forward to pressurise
opponents if needed, can communicate to team-mates ahead of him and read
the play. He can also, if needed drop quickly into the penalty box to attand
to any situation that is not dealt with by the keeper and co-defenders. |
|
The space between the keeper and the rear defenders has to be regarded as the
keepers responsibility in terms of his communicating to others and coming forward
to intercept and gather passes that are within his range. Angled passes away
from the keeper for attackers should be countered by markers but the keeper
should see the space between himself and his defenders as an area where he should
come forward to gain possession, wherever it is possible and appropriate to
do so and early, decisive communication and action will resolve problems. If
t5he keeper is hesitant with communication and action then defenders must act
decisively as they feel is appropriate.
The importance of the 35 yard line
The overwelming majority of goals are scored from within
the penalty area, with an extremely high ratio scored from within 12 yards of
goal. However, it is not unknown and impossible to score from ranges of up to
35yds-goals have been scored from longer distances. Once opponents have possession
of the ball within this area, our defence must have as its major aim, the prevention
of shooting opportunities and reduction of potential shooting opportunities.
The sweeper plays a vital role in this by carrying out
the following functions:
- Pressurising from 2-3 yards any opponent who is free
and in possession of the ball if no other defender is doing so within 35yd
area.
- Sending a fellow defender to presssurise the ball
and taking over his marking responsibilities.
- Moving to cover any marker in a 1 v 1 situation with
an attacker, especially one opposed by an attacker, facing our goal within
35 yds of goal.
- Tracking and eventually marking any opponent moving
into a receiving position inside the goal-scoring area if no other team-mate
is doing so.
Problem situations for the sweeper to deal with
The following are situations that arise and may cause
the sweeper to leave his position of security behind the defence. Therefore
we should seek to avoid these circumstances arising
Passes made behind the defence into wide areas to attackers who have
broken free from markers.
Situations
- 04 (mf) has passed the ball into the attacking third of the field
into a position down the sides of the penalty box to 09 who has broken
free from marker X5
- Sweeper X6 now has to leave his position centrally to cover the threat
of 09 in the attacking third.
- X5 should now recover goalside of the ball as quickly as possible
and replace the sweeper.
|
 |
Players breaking away from markers who may be potential receivers
of passes in goal scoring or goal creating areas.
Situations
- 04 (mf) has broken into the penalty box to receive from 08
- Sweeper X6 takes over the role of tracking and then marking 04 as
he moves into a potential goal scoring area.
|
 |
Players breaking at goal in possession of the ball and moving into
potential goal scoring positions
Situations
- 04 (mf) running through midfield and to within 30yds of goal.
- X6, on 04 entering into an area within 30-35 yds of goal, comes forward
from his position behind rear defenders to oppose 04 in a 1 v 1 situation.
- Defnders X4, X5, X2, X3 recover centrally to assist X6 to counter
the treat.
|
 |
Players breaking free into positions where they may create a goal
scoring opportunity- often in flank positions
Situations
- 04 has broken free from X10 and has made an overlap run past 07 to
receive the ball.
- X6- on recognising the situation moves from a covering position behind
other defenders to mark and pressurise 04 as he receives possession.
|
 |
Markers being attacked in 1 v 1 situations around the penalty box
Situations
- 09 has turned on receiving possession from 04 and has attacked X5
by running with the ball directly at him within 35yds of goal.
- X6 on recognising X5 is in a 1 v 1 situation in or near to a potential
goal-scoring position should move to position himself in a covering
position behind X5 and give information to X5 on how best to defend
in this situation.
|
 |
A marking defender leaves his immediate opponent to counter a bigger
threat.
Situations
- 04 (mf) has moved into a flank position to receive a pass from 07
in a crossing area.
- X5 recognises the danger and leaves 009 to pressurise 04 on receiving
or having possession.
- X6 now moves to mark 09 as appropriate and X4 and X2 adjust their
roles.
|
 |
The opposition position an attacker up against our sweeper.
Situations
- 09 who has to be marked by X5 has positioned himself in front of the
sweeper and plays there as an attacking tactic
- X6 may now take the following courses of action:
- Mark 09 and X5 becomes a sweeper
- Position X5 in front of 09 and accept the responsibility for 09
- Step up and attempt to catch 09 offside in crucial situations as appropriate
X5 takes over the role of sweeper or/spare defender as often as possible. |
 |
Key Points
- Positioning- behind, ahead of the defence.
- Movement-according to the ball and attacking play
- Responsibilities. When
the ball is outside shooting distances. Inside
shooting distance. At strikers feet. Ball being
'run' at the penalty box. Ball in wide positions.
On gaining possession
- Midfield defending resonsibilities and general team
cohesion.
- Role of forwards and midfield player e.g. Sliding and front
players across the pitch.
- Team compactness
- Attacking on gaining possession.
The Sweeper |
