Can you see that space at 9?

Another week, another analysis. Hope you are enjoying the weekly analysis so far. Because  I do enjoy this every week. Now let’s dig into it.

The game we have today is the first quarter final for the OkLiga. In between Barça and Alcoi. It finished on a draw. Barça got the victory on the Penalties. 

So now, spread the roller hockey word

As a reminder, Follow this steps:

1. Take a look at the video:
2. Read and think about the analysis.
3. Match the analysis and the video. Min 3:11

If you don’t remember the areas of the floor click here to see them

This play is so fun to watch to be honest. I know it looks like I talk a lot about this specific tactic. And I am sorry but it is so easy, effective and beautiful.

I'm trying to delay what it is but I cannot do it any longer. You will read what I am talking about. This goal opens the score board of the game. Alcoi sets the 0-1.

What Alcoi does is setting up the sides. By dragging all the attention to the right lane. How do they do it? Simple. 3 Alcoi players are located on the same side, one of them has the ball, and the fourth player is on the opposite side.

There are two things here. The players on the strong side are next to the walls, and the one on the weak side is on their floor, next to the area. Now recap on the video. Can you see the huge amount of space on 9?

That is what you are looking for when you are thinking about this play. The attack is ready, let’s see the defence. Barça is pushing a lot, they are doing 20 mts defence pushing. What Alcoi does is simple, they try to get the ball to 7. 

Barça is pushing so well that the Alcoi player has to stop at 3. It is not only this defender, Barça is getting back up. The defender at the weak side came to help there. Every action has a reaction right? So now the Alcoi player at the weak side is alone, no defender. Free from defenders. 

Quickly Alcoi moves the ball back to 0, same side. Sorry guys, I cannot see the numbers clearly. Sorry for the mess. And, in two taps they pass the ball to the weak side. This guy is Ferran Formajè (Alcoi Nº2). Ferran, stops the ball at 0 next to the wall and he keeps skating down the wall. 

Here are two things. He stops the ball while he is skating and he skates down the wall. These two details allow him to get some advantage on the defender that will come to defend him. As Ferran has that much advantage, defenders cannot stop him. You can see how he skates wherever he wants to go. Amazing, beautiful.Ferran finishes this on a powerful slap shot straight to the top corner. While the defender was just close to him.

Grab a stick & keep skating! Or not