Long ball
In association football, a long ball is a pass attempt that moves the ball a long distance on the field via one long aerial kick from either a goalkeeper or a defender directly to an attacking player, with the ball generally bypassing the midfield. Rather than arrive at the feet of the receiving attacking player, the attacker is expected to challenge the opposing defence in the air, with other attacking players and midfielders arriving to try and take possession of the ball if it breaks loose. It is a technique that can be especially effective for a team with either fast or tall
Not all lengthy passes are considered long ball play, and long but precise passes towards a particular teammate may not fit the description.[7] Long-ball play is generally characterised by the relatively aimless nature of the kick upfield, with the ball simply being 'hoofed' high in the air towards the general location of the forwards, who, given the length of time the ball is in the air, will have time to arrive at the position where the ball will drop.
Statistical basis
The 'long ball theory' was first discussed by a retired RAF Wing Commander—Charles Reep—in the 1950s in England. Reep was an amateur statistician and analysed not only the number of passes that led to a goal, but also the field positions where those passes originated. Reep documented his findings in various publications including match day programmes.[8]
Reep developed a number of concepts describing effective long ball play. 'Gulleys' refer to the optimum position between the corner flag and six yard box from which to make the final pass into the penalty box; the '3-pass optimisation rule' emerges from the fact that a higher percentage of goals are scored in moves involving only three passes prior to the shot; the '9 shots per goal' maxim, stating that on average, only one goal is scored for every nine shots; and the 'twelve point three yard' position, which is the mean distance from the goal that all goals are scored. The long-ball game is also advocated in such books The Winning Formula: The Football Association Soccer Skills and Tactics, by
Effectiveness
The long ball strategy has often been criticised as a method that has held back the
It is however used by teams desperate to score a goal before the end of a match, though this is probably as much due to the lack of time for a gradual build-up as it is for its perceived effectiveness.[13] The long ball technique is also effective in lower level football matches since players lack skill to work as a team and pass the ball accurately up the field. A long ball is a quick counterattacking move and with a fast striker may produce multiple goals.
Notable proponents
This section is in prose. is available. (December 2011) |
The examples and perspective in this section deal primarily with the United Kingdom and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (December 2011) |
Examples
The long ball is sometimes criticised as being used by weaker teams with less tactical skill.[28] In the hands of mediocre teams, or at the lower youth leagues this might be so. Analysis of its implementation at world-class levels however, shows that effective use of long-ball techniques can be found in numerous competitive World Cup or championship club teams. It can be used as a counterattacking style, or as a daring through pass when opportunities open up during a game. The long ball requires top level skill to implement correctly. Mere passing is not the only variable—intelligent running into space, good dribbling and crisp finishing are also required.[29]
One of the best uses of the long-ball was Netherlands striker Dennis Bergkamp's goal against Argentina in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Dutch defender Frank de Boer initiated the move from near the middle of the field, with a long pass that curled over 7 opposing players. Bergkamp controlled the difficult ball, spun past a defender and smashed it home. The example illustrates the power of the long-ball style but also that it is more than simply pumping the ball upfield. Only Bergkamp's excellent skills were able to take advantage of the de Boer's outstanding, and daring pass. As such, it emphasises that football is a game requiring not only a comprehensive package of individual skills, but imagination and creativity as well. Both are present in the long-ball style.
Contemporary teams like
One of the greatest of the Norwegian goals scored with this style was by the striker Tore André Flo during the 1998 World Cup. Similar to the Bergkamp goal, but played to an advanced man on the wing, it began with an extremely long pass from Stig Inge Bjørnebye. Flo was alone when he received. He ran on and cut inside to beat his defending opponent, then slotted the ball past the goalkeeper Cláudio Taffarel. The Norwegians went on to upset the mighty Brazilian team in this match. However, Brazil had already won the group before this game took place while Norway needed to win.
Accurate passes aimed at a specific player are examples of individual long balls, but do not represent the spirit of a team playing a long-ball game. In that situation, the team would be pumping long-balls up repeatedly into an area, rather than a specific player, hoping the striker would get some of them and the percentages would pay off in the long-run.
The long ball can be very effective as a switch in game plan in pressure situations. In
See also
- Formation (association football)
- Football tactics and skills
- Revie Plan
- Flo Pass
- Total Football
- Striker
References
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- ^ Sleight, Hugh (16 December 2010). "Graham Taylor: playing the long ball". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ^ Innes, Richard (18 September 2015). "The Premier League's most long ball teams revealed - two clubs are in for a shock - Mirror Online". The Mirror. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ^ Bull, JJ (22 July 2016). "Flexible formations, rigid systems and making long ball work: How Sam Allardyce will tactically transform England". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ^ Welch, Ben (10 June 2013). "How to defend against the long ball". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ^ "Boring Winners and Long Ball in England". The New Yorker. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
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- ^ Charles Hughes, The Winning Formula: The Football Association Soccer Skills and Tactics, HarperCollins: 1990. 0001979620
- ISBN 0-7528-8995-8. p140.
- ^ a b Football: Learning to live with football's bogeyman: Dave Hadfield lived next door to Charles Hughes - and survived Hadfield, David. The Independent. 13-08-94, Accessed 08-06-10
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- ^ Holden, Jim (21 September 2007). "Why England Need Coaching Genius". The Express. Archived from the original on 13 February 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- ^ Henson, Michael. "Bolton Wanderers". Inthenews.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ^ James, Stuart (23 May 2006). "Long ball could give Hornets route one to safety". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ Glanville, Brian (21 September 2002). "The Charltons". Sportstar. 25 (28). Archived from the original on 13 February 2008.
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- ^ "Norway's style won't change without Olsen". CNN. Sports Illustrated. 28 June 1998. Retrieved 16 February 2008.
- ^ Shaw, Phil (26 February 2008). "Stoke on fire as Tony Pulis wins over sceptics". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2010.[dead link]
- ^ Football, Mirror (8 March 2010). "Steve Bruce says he is not a long ball manager - now he needs to prove it". mirror.
- ^ Lutz, Tom (8 December 2006). "Football League Spy No6: Grimsby Town". The Guardian. London.
- ^ "The Reebok revolution: How Coyle brought sexy back?". Sport.co.uk. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ^ "When Saturday Comes - Cambridge United 1991". Wsc.co.uk. 9 July 2012. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ^ Begley, Emlyn (28 May 2011). "Stevenage 1-0 Torquay United". BBC News.
- ^ "Hleb slams McLeish 'long ball' Birmingham tactics". Goal.com. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
- ^ "'And soccer only comes fourth in Wimbledon'". New Straits Times. 11 September 1986. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ Peter Swann (10 August 2015). "What tiki-taka football can teach us about boosting innovation". Theconversation.com. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
- ^ Ken Jones and Pat Welton, Soccer Skills and Tactics, Crown Publishers, 1979, p. 157–159
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