Futbol Island

Futsal lesson · Attack and protect across goal · Intermediate

Protect the Far-Post Runner

The far-side defender checks the runner instead of joining the ball; responsibilities reverse when the ball switches.

What the coach says

  1. Blue attacks our goal. The left ala can slow the ball on the left, but another attacker is waiting across goal.
  2. You are the right ala. Check the runner and the ball, rather than watching only the dribbler.
  3. Which movement protects the runner across goal?
  4. Stay goal-side and close enough to follow the runner. Keep checking the ball.
  5. Blue switches across the court instead of finding that runner.
  6. The original ball carrier now runs toward the other post. Our fixo watches the central attacker.
  7. The ball is on the right now. Near side and far side have changed.
  8. Who should protect the runner at the new far post?
  9. The left ala recovers with the runner. The right ala moves toward the new ball carrier.
  10. One slows the ball; one checks the far runner; the fixo protects the middle. Recheck those jobs after a switch.
  11. Blue carries wider. Our goalkeeper shifts across while the right ala delays and the left ala stays with the runner.

Quiz questions

Try to answer before you read the coach’s explanation. On the island you answer each one on the pitch.

  1. Question 1

    Which movement protects the runner across goal?

    • Move across toward the ball
    • Track the far-post runner

    Coach’s explanation: Recover with the far runner. The left ala already pressures the ball, and this runner could receive across goal.

  2. Question 2

    Who should protect the runner at the new far post?

    • The left ala tracks the runner
    • The right ala tracks the runner

    Coach’s explanation: The left ala is nearest the new far runner. Recover goal-side while the right ala slows the ball.

  3. Question 3

    True or false? As the right ala, you should only watch the dribbler.

    • False
    • True

    Coach’s explanation: It's false. You check the runner across goal and the ball, so nobody scores at the far post.

  4. Question 4

    Blue switched the ball to the right. What should happen next?

    • Both alas run to the new ball carrier
    • The left ala recovers with the far runner
    • The right ala runs back to the far post

    Coach’s explanation: After a switch the jobs flip, so the left ala now tracks the far-post runner.

  5. Question 5

    Blue has the ball on the right. Where should the left ala defend the far runner?

    • Goal-side of the far-post runner
    • Into the middle, toward the ball
    • Up the court, away from our goal

    Coach’s explanation: Between the runner and our goal, the left ala can reach any pass across goal.

Play it on the island