Meeting the ball
I have realized that I'm losing a lot of balls because I reach it too late. By the time I reach it either the defender gets too close and cuts off my options or I let it get too close to the line and sometimes it even goes out of play.
This is happening because I'm continuing my run on the same path I'm on (mostly parallel to the sideline) and hoping that I meet it when the balls path and my path meet. I keep thinking to myself that if I'm wider I 'll have more space and as a result have a little more time to think and take necessary actions to execute my next move.
I need to get to the ball first, unless there's no one coming at me and I have space I should meet the ball as early as possible. So instead of letting the ball roll I need to get to it as quickly as possible. To get to it quicker than meeting it on my own path I need to get off my path and run diagonally inside and cut the path short by reducing the distance the ball travels out.
That's it
I agree Dhrupad -
ReplyDeleteWhen you continue on the path of the ball - you movement is predictable (more easy to cut off as no) also they get more time.
When you cut across (diagonally) and meet the ball - this puts pressure on the defense not only because they get less time, but you have now more options (including the space you have created between you and the sideline) - which puts the defense in a quandary / decision making pressure.
Diagonal runs are always lethal - as they divide the defense line.