Stop at 3

We are back to OkLiga, guys! I am excited. The game we are analysing today is day 18, Noia vs Reus. It ended 4-4. Let's go to the video. As a reminder, follow these steps:

• Take a look at the video.
• Read and think about the analysis.
• Match the analysis and the video. It starts at 3:40.

Deep Game 

David Gelma (Reus Nº96) gets the ball back on his floor and the first thing he does is skate next to the wall to position 3. The reason is simple: Reus wants the defenders in those areas to realise Noia’s high pressure.

Danger

 As soon as Reus enters 3, they are dangerous. Not only because of their positioning, they are saying with all their intentions that they are going in if they have a minimum space. They use their body language to be threatening. As they were trying, they passed to 9, where Marti Casas (Reus Nº18) couldn't stop it.

Reorganising

Casas gets the ball back, waiting for his teammates to reposition. Casas is timing perfectly in a good spot (area 4). Joan Salvat (Reus Nº5) comes from the other side behind the cage, looking for the ball and releasing some pressure from Marti.

Stop and reorganise can be the difference between a successful positional attack and a counter attack towards our goalkeeper.

Area 3 

Here we are again; 3 is synonymous with creation. Salvat gets the ball and skates towards 3, swapping positions with Marti. This movement is called a swap; it is simply two players swapping positions. It can look like a bad block, but it is not a block; there is no contact or aiming for contact like in a block. Salvat passes the ball back to Marti and cuts in. Look at Salvat; as soon as he enters the penalty box, he turns around looking for the ball but keeps skating towards the opposite side. Marti times by 3, aiming for space, which he has thanks to Salvat’s cut, giving him some space to execute a shot.

• Area 3: This is a tricky area. All this play comes from here. First stop here for timing and then before the goal, another stop here too.
• Behind the Cage: Starting to play behind the cage after a transition where the other team is pushing is the finish line of the transition. During the positional, it may force all defenders to come closer to us, giving the attackers even more power in our decisions.
• Danger: Since Reus arrives at 3, they are aiming for the cage. This gives the defenders the feeling that they have to be there all the time, no rest for them.

Grab a stick & keep skating!!