The Contain Part: Theory

Practice Activities: One to Beat | One Layer Two | Distant Layers
Dizzy Miss Lizzy | Triangulation

In the Contain Part, the other team has the ball and your team is focused on preventing a breakthrough. It would be nice to win the ball back, but that's not the immediate priority.

What should your players do in the Contain Part? The key is to set up multiple layers between the ball and the goal. How that’s done depends on whether one, two, or three defenders are available.

One Defender

One defender without help can only set up one layer, so that layer must be a safe one as shown below. The defender is backpedaling, stalling. He’s keeping a cushion between himself and the ball so that the ball can’t be pushed past. He turns sideways a bit so that the ball can’t be pushed between his legs.

These defensive ideas can be learned and strengthened with One to Beat, a 1 v 1 dribbling game. Due to the setup, each defender and dribbler gets many tries in a short period of time. Go to One to Beat.

Two Defenders

When two defenders are on the scene, two layers can be created for the ball to get through. The layers must be the right distance apart, though. In the first diagram, the layers are too close. They can both be broken through with one swift maneuver. To avoid this problem, play One Layer Two, a version of Run the Gauntlet. Go to One Layer Two.

If the layers are too far apart, one can be broken through and then the other. To avoid this problem, play Distant Layers, a version of Run the Gauntlet. Go to Distant Layers.

Here’s a better scenario. The second defender is behind the ball and off to the side (see below). If the ball is pushed past the first defender, the second can get to the ball first. And by being off to the side, the second defender preserves the offside line and keeps an eye on other opponents as well.

Coaching courses would say the second defender is providing cover. That word can have different meanings, though, as when we ask a defender to cover an opponent. I prefer to say the second defender is backing up the play, providing backup, or providing a second layer. If you say that at your coaching course, you’ll flunk!

Three Defenders

When three defenders are between the ball and goal, triangle theory can come into play. Three defenders in a triangle can prevent four or more opponents from scoring, if the triangle points toward the ball.

The next diagram shows how the triangle should work. One defender, the triangle’s point, stays on the line between the ball and the goal. As the ball moves from one side to the other, so moves that defender. Two defenders create the triangle’s base, providing a second layer in case the ball gets past the point. Those two also cover the field’s width, should the ball be passed to one side or the other.

A defensive triangle needs the correct shape. Here are four ways a triangle can go astray:

Triangle Too Flat
If the defenders in the base move too far forward, or spread too wide, the triangle will be too flat (see below). Now, the base can’t back up the point. The defender with the ball has only one defender to beat.

Triangle Too Steep
If the defenders in the base move too close together, the triangle will be too steep (Scene 12-12). The base is backing up the point, but isn’t helping with the field’s width. A pass to either side will cause trouble.

Base of Triangle Uneven
Usually, the defenders in the base should be the same distance from their own goal line. If one sags back further than the other, the base of the triangle will be uneven—a problem because of the offside. In the picture, the uneven base has allowed an opponent to move forward without being in an offside position.

Triangle Pointing Away
If one defender sags behind two others, the triangle will point away from the ball. Such triangles have three serious flaws:
1. An opponent can dribble right through the middle, with only the rear defender to beat.
2. If the rear defender is beaten, the other two defenders can’t back up the play.
3. There’s only one defender in the rear to cover the field’s width. If that defender is drawn to one side, the other side might be wide open.

Defensive setups that use a Sweeper—one defender backing up the others—suffer from these three flaws.

Teaching Triangle Concepts

The player at the point of the triangle can be a powerful force in the Contain Part. By staying between the ball and goal as the ball is passed, he can single-handedly prevent a great deal of penetration. His role is sometimes referred to that of a windshield wiper. Dizzy Miss, a 2 v 1 game, teaches this defensive role. Go to Dizzy Miss Lizzy.

Triangulation is a small sided scrimmage or Thoughtscrim in which the defending team must use triangles. Go to Triangulation.

Triangle Controversies

Triangle Theory has generated considerable controversy. Many traditionalists question whether the point of the triangle can really perform this role. They predict that the player would have to be an outstanding, fit, player, if not Superman. In reality, though, this player can be a slower player, for he always has backup.

Coaching courses usually speak of three defenders taking on the roles of pressure, cover, and balance. The player providing pressure closes in on the ball and prevents further advance. The player providing cover is off to the side and behind—providing the second layer, in Thoughtful Soccer lingo. The player providing balance is further away, covering opponents and space in a sector to which the ball could suddenly move.

I believe the term balance is one of the most poorly defined in the soccer world. It's simply a grouping for several different things a defender can do away from the ball. He can track down open defenders, take away open space, guard the back post, and so on. That's why I don't use the term.

If we translate triangle theory into traditional theory, what do we get? A triangle is nothing more than pressure with support on both sides. That’s a very safe setup. After all, one can’t predict which side the breakthrough attempt will occur.

The Triangle Three Defense is a three-back defensive system in which the two outside fullbacks hang back a bit behind the central fullback. This system flows logically from triangle theory, and is a direct application of that theory. Is such a system intelligent? That depends on whether or not you buy into triangle theory. For more on this controversy, go to Triangle Three Defense Controversy.