9-14-25
Hi Hannah. It was REALLY important and good that we won vs ER and we did it with a big score.
However, I still think there are some major weakesses in our diamond formation.
Particularly our vulnerability in deep defense… teams being able to easily get one or two players deeper than our defenders multiple times in the last two games.
Beacuse of that, I think we need to rethink defensive positioning.
The video below got me thinking. I like the roles and responsibilities as he describes them. Seems to fit our player skill set and fitness levels. I’m wondering if we can adapt some of this into a modified diamond formation…especially the backfield double pivot (perhaps Nicole and Quinn). It is just a thought. Hope it makes sense (though I know it might not):
below are my thoughts about possibly modifying the diamond formation.
This is the lineup I would suggest for Hilton:
GK - Lucy (Bri is sub)
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CB / Nicole (I think this position needs to be redefined in name and in terms of roles/responsibilities. I think with Nicole in the CB postion, it could possibly be called “Lower BOD” or “L-BOD”)
LB - Sophie/Casey (I think LB and RB should stay in our defensive 1/3 at all times with Nicole and Quinn covering transition 1/3 when we are on attack)
RB - Tori/Casey (I think RB and LB should stay in our defensive 1/3 at all times with Nicole and Quinn covering transition 1/3 when we are on attack)
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BOD/Quinn (I think this position needs to be redefined in name and in terms of roles/responsibilities. I think it could possibly be called “Upper BOD or “U-BOD”)
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LM - Addy
RM - Shannon
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TOD (attacking midfielder) - Salice
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POINT - Kenadie (or Emma)
RW - Emma (Ambri is sub)
LW - Isla (Camila is sub)
As L-BOD (“lower BOD” Nicole/CB) and U-BOD (“upper BOD” Quinn) they cover the transition 1/3 of the field when our team is on attack.
They will play up and back on a dagonal from line of ball.
They need to communicate constantly. Who has ball…. who is cover.
One will go up to support just inside our attacking 25yd line when we are in our attack circle.
The other one stays in our transition 1/3 to be the first line of defense on an opponent breakaway… apply pressure to ball carrier: 1) slow them down; 2) channel to sideline; 3) create opprotunities to double/trap and steal ball.
———
RB and LB
always stay in our defensive 1/3.
They team up to stop breakaways.
Constant communication with each other and GK as they see the play developing. Who has ball… who is cover.
They never leave the GK vulnerable to a 2vGK.
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RM and LM have to be:
Fast and Fit to support attack at edge of our attack circle. Keep the ball going back to cage. Apply fast pressure to opponent carrying ball out of circle… primarily anticipating the pass and putting ball right back at goal.
Fast and Fit to recover on opponent breakaways on opposite side field to get all the way back to our defensive circle to pick up a mark.
Fast and Fit and Good Communicators to work with U-BOD and L-BOD to slow down breakaways on their side of field… channel… double… steal.
Fast and Fit to recover to center and deeper than the ball if U-BOD or L-BOD get pulled out to their sidleline space.
Ability to make decisive quick passes in to TOD or Through to wing… and keep the in-and-out passing pattern going with quick decisive passing.
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RW and LW:
need to stay wide when ball is on their side in transition 1/3. They want to get ball to sidleines so that opponent defense gets spread out (this will open passing lanes).
need to squeeze in when ball is on opposite side of field
need to stay on a diagonal to goal when we have a breakaway (MUST be ahead of the ball)
Need to be able to “give and go” pass with TOD… (ie., receive ball from TOD and send right back to her as she cuts forward)
Need to be able to “wall pass” back pass to mid (I.e.e, receive ball and send dierctly back in same line as mid sent to her)… This will create space to transfer ball or pass possibly open a through passing lane when the other team is pressing.
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TOD
Holds center. (U-BOD and L-BOD and LM and RM an RW and LW will take of width of field.
TOD needs to keep ball going out to sidelines and then receive quick ball back at center
When the ball comes back to center, TOD needs to quickly determine if they have a line to goal OR if they need to send out wide again to open spaces in the defense.
TOD is key play maker on attack… and most likely key goal scorer.
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POINT
stays ahead of TOD toward goal
Constantly moving to be able to recive a pass from TOD, RW or LW
Always looking to get ball back to TOD in a psoition where she can get ball to goal.
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Below are two doodled images that show this formation as (I described above) for a few different sutuations.
Ball in our attacking 1/3
Starting ball when opponent has ball
Positioning in our deep defensive 1/3
A simple W press we can use for blocking up free hits. Can try in Hilton Game to force a bad pass that we can intercept
