How to deal with high hanging strikers?

Tom BeanCoach, England

Hi Karin,

With two strikers hanging high, it can end up being an advantage for you. Have two of your defenders to mark them, making the option of a long ball up to them quite unlikely.

Then you can have your spare defender sweeping in front of them to intercept any passes or to make tackles if your midfielders are eliminated.

With two high forwards, it will mean that the opposition have less numbers to link the midfielders with the forwards, therefore this is a great opportunity to perhaps press slightly higher with your own forward line to put the pressure on the oppositions outletting.

When you win the ball back, look to counter-attack quickly to exploit the space that the opposition will have left!

Remember, this all comes from your marking defenders to do a good job of not allowing the long ball to the high forwards an option.

I hope this helps!

Julian MorrinCoach, New Zealand

As a coach that employs the "seagull" tactic, the best thing to do is pretty much ignore them and concentrate on getting the ball into your "D".

Have a midfielder / high sweeper covering the "hotline" from ball to your goal, and a low defender (or swing defence) to have one back to cover the overhead / smash ball.

The two outcomes that the high striker (or strikers) are looking for is to a) tie up a defender or two and b) wait for a ball through and hope for a 1v1 with goalie.