Full Back 5 - Defending at the throw-in

Full back is a position that requires playing against the touch line, so when the opposition have a throw-in the full back has to be involved when the play is on his side of the field.

Exercise (i)

The ideal position for the full back is when he can be the covering player as shown in diagram 1.




Attacker A1 is taking the throw-in, A2 and A3 are in forward positions, marked by defenders D1 and D2. D3 checks back to mark A4 (a support player) or even close on A1 should he come into the play.

This leaves D4 (the full back) to act as cover for the defence should A1 throw down the line, or even get a return pass and look then to bring others into the attack.

Should A1 throw to A2 or A3 and gets a return pass, then D1 may have to advance to face A1 leaving D4 to move forward to mark A2.

Once again communication between the defenders is very important with the full back who has the whole view being a key player-often instructing others when to go and when to retreat.
 

Exercise (ii)

More often the full back hasn't the luxury of being the covering player, for example at a quick throw-in...in that situation the full back has to mark tight quickly.

In this situation A1 takes a quick throw-in. It could go to A2 or is thrown over his head down the line for A2 to chase.

Whatever D4 must keep himself goalside of A2, even if it means allowing A2 time to lay the ball back to the thrower. More important is not be caught out with the ball thrown over his head putting A2 in the clear.
D4 must weigh up his position if A1 throws to A3, who lays back to A1 as he could be facing a 2 against 1 situation.

His job then is to delay the attack (see earlier pratices on jockeying...Full back 2.) but he must still try and remain goalside of the attackers as long as possible.




Clever moves are often a feature of some teams, especially those in higher grade football.

In diagram 3, A2 now stands inside the field, which means that if D4 is not the cover player then he has to mark him.

This could give A3 the chance and the space to run across A2 and D4 and down the flank leaving D2 chasing him.

Should this occur then D4 has to make a quick decision whether to leave A4 and cut off A3's run -hoping that other defenders will cover the centre field.

Alternatively he will have to decide what chance D2 has of making up on A3's run. If he considers D2 has a good chance then he can stay with A2 and move back as the attack progresses. Once again though he must try and keep himself goalside of the ball, this will at least give him a chance of blocking a cross or even getting in a tackle should A3's initial run take him away from D2.