The flat back four is a kind of positioning system used in football for defense. This position comes with a four-man defense at the start that forms a straight line. This line is formed along the pitch.
The flat back four is often used in combination with an offside trap, a form of defensive technique wherein a player puts his or her body in between an attacking opponent and the ball to prevent the said opponent from claiming the ball. This move is said to be illegal when not done right and without any movement variations or combinations. In addition, when the defensive player comes with complete control of the ball, the technique is commonly called as shielding. Shielding in the rules of football is considered a legal move.
Advantages of the Flat Back Four
Experts agree that there are several advantages when it comes to the flat back four. These advantages can be used to its maximum depending on the level of chemistry between the players, how well the coach knows the players and the kind of players that a team has.One of the advantages is the provision of support to fullbacks allowing them to establish a good level of superiority in specific situations over their opponents. This in turn allows players a good way to reach the touchline as long as the midfielders can cover up if the possession of the ball is lost.
Another advantage of the flat back four is its way of restricting the involvement of fullbacks to different stages of the game including attacks. This is especially true when the opposing team has two or three players along the attack lines.
Tips for Coaches in Employing the Flat Back Four
To make use of the advantages provided by the flat back four, coaches of football teams must learn simple tips. These tips will help the team strengthen their defense.There are three simple tips that are summarized by football experts and one of these includes telling the wingers to allow their hips to face forward and towards his or her direction. Another coaching tip include getting a player to strike the ball by allowing the foot to be directly placed outside the ball. Last but not the least is to make sure that a player’s big toe is pointing up. This motion or technique allows the ball to spin faster.