Swap the defence mindset
Simple as this. When you get enough experience and the minimum technique and tactic knowledge (and being able to execute them in a game situation). All the coaches will say that the difference between a good player and an excellent player is the decision making. Fully agree. There is something else that I would love to mention too. It is the mind set swap.
As a reminder, Follow this steps:
- Take a look at the video:
- Read and think about the analysis.
- Match the analysis and the video. Min 0:50
What do I refer to as a mind swap. This sport has 3 macro phases: attack, defence, and transitions. The mind swap refers to the ability to change in between phases. The fastest the better. The roles of the players are completely different and the objectives as well.
Nice and easy today. We can see a high defence from Shum. impressive attitude considering Shum as a newly promoted team and Noia as a top team in the OkLiga. Noia is getting the ball towards 7 to settle the defence lower and create some space.
Just check 9 now. There is no one, well one Noia player is trying to get in. While Shum defender is watching closely. As the ball is going up towards 3, the forth defender is helping out and the attacker at 9 tries to get in.
Look at this detail Noia attacker is not going to 9 straight away, he fakes the entry to the opposite direction, triggering the defender with him, and after that tries to go in. Here he is. Our main character today Josep Hernandez (Shum Nº96) is the defender in 9. Look at him when the attacker is going, he is turning as well, always facing him and using the stick to cut a pass line.
You got it. He cut the pass. And the transition begins. Josep passes forward the ball asap. Look at the set up. The Noia player going in is behind, and the one at 7 stills there. That means, Noia has 2 players less for the transition. While all Shum players are facing the other goal cage.
We can say that the transition has become a counter attack. The 2 players in a more advanced position skate towards one lane, while Josep skates towards the opposite. Noia’s defence is clear, the player on one side and the player with the ball are fully covered. Clear set of a 3 on 2 defence. Which means that the third player, Josep, is free.
Shum keeps the transition, by the time the ball gets to 4. Josep is free at the second post. He gets the pass and executes. Scoring the first goal of the game for his team.
The key here is not the transition itself because it was a bit odd to be honest. Achieve the goal yes, no hesitation. If you follow the book it was a bit different. The key here is how Josep cuts the pass, initiates the counter attack. Skates to continue the counter attack as the third attacker and after that he is the one free from defender and executes scoring. I can tell he is not the fastest skater, he got over David Gelma (Noia Nº96) because he changed the mindset faster.
Grab a stick & keep skating! Or not
