How to Counter Long Puckouts and Attack whle Playing against a Breeze

pprendeville

Jus lost a league game tonight. Ahead by 5pts at half time playing with a stiff breeze. were comfortable. Had more of the play. Second half gets underway and their keeper has a monstrous puck out and is landing balls close to our 21. Their picking up loos ball the odd occasion and popping it over. We're not winning much ball from our puck outs hence inside forward line not seeing much ball. I'm a small midfielder and admit my weakness is in the air.

What's the best strategy to counteract this problem do ye all think? I was showing for short balls a lot but management were having none of it. don't see what is wrong with a short puckout as when ball is in play it's easier for forwards to move around I think.

KerranJast

Your management are fools if they didn't spot that problem. Most teams would counter that by dropping midfield and even the half forwards back to improve their chances of winning balls being belted in by the opposition. To get it forward against the wind, a short pass running game like Cork used to employ or knocking lower balls in long to the full forwards would stand a good chance of working.

LeoB

Agree with above. Mobility is a big thing also. If you start playing a short game you need plenty of mobility in your half back and half forwards.

You may be small but apart from your managment not reading the game and making switchs players must anticipate where the ball is heading and be there ready to battle for it. On your question, One midfielder behind your half back line with a half forward dropping in front of the line.

You bear in mind,

"Its not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog"

or as Dara O'Cinneide said when asked how he coped with 2 very big opponents his reply was

"Its not how big you are its how high you can jump"

grenache

pprendeville wrote: »

Jus lost a league game tonight. Ahead by 5pts at half time playing with a stiff breeze. were comfortable. Had more of the play. Second half gets underway and their keeper has a monstrous puck out and is landing balls close to our 21. Their picking up loos ball the odd occasion and popping it over. We're not winning much ball from our puck outs hence inside forward line not seeing much ball. I'm a small midfielder and admit my weakness is in the air.

What's the best strategy to counteract this problem do ye all think? I was showing for short balls a lot but management were having none of it. don't see what is wrong with a short puckout as when ball is in play it's easier for forwards to move around I think.

I would definitely have my keeper trying the short puck out ala Donal óg Cusack. That or puck it long but keep the trajectory low by putting a bit of spin on it. As for being weak in the air, I used always try doubling on the ball in the air, most of the time i wouldn't connect, but it did mean my man couldn't catch the ball cleanly

wow sierra

KerranJast wrote: »

Your management are fools if they didn't spot that problem. Most teams would counter that by dropping midfield and even the half forwards back to improve their chances of winning balls being belted in by the opposition. To get it forward against the wind, a short pass running game like Cork used to employ or knocking lower balls in long to the full forwards would stand a good chance of working.

God its not rocket science is it???????? Good god. If the puck out is going past midfield then you have to adjust to that by dropping men back. Usually the best way to play against the wind is a running game but you need to be capable of playing that way - have to be fit and capable of short passing etc. Mind you there is the point that if they are only 5 points up at half time in a hurling game playing with a strong wind then maybe the other team are simply better.

Anyway its a complicated question in a way I suppose - we would need to know the skills of the various players on your team before we suggest how you should have played them. As regards the height thing - I agree with the Dara OCinneide thing -"its not how tall you are its how high you can jump"
and - in the case of the lazy, picked because of their height, GAA players - whether you are arsed to jump at all, or be in the general vicinity of where the ball is likely to be.

Its a complicated old business - thats what keeps us playing and watching.:):)

wixfjord

wow sierra wrote: »

God its not rocket science is it???????? Good god. If the puck out is going past midfield then you have to adjust to that by dropping men back. Usually the best way to play against the wind is a running game but you need to be capable of playing that way - have to be fit and capable of short passing etc. Mind you there is the point that if they are only 5 points up at half time in a hurling game playing with a strong wind then maybe the other team are simply better.

Anyway its a complicated question in a way I suppose - we would need to know the skills of the various players on your team before we suggest how you should have played them. As regards the height thing - I agree with the Dara OCinneide thing -"its not how tall you are its how high you can jump"
and - in the case of the lazy, picked because of their height, GAA players - whether you are arsed to jump at all, or be in the general vicinity of where the ball is likely to be.

Its a complicated old business - thats what keeps us playing and watching.:):)

Which is it now?

I agree with above that there its quite hard switching to a short puck out and short passing game if it doesnt suit your style of play. A lot of carrying, and fit players are a big help. Its much easier to play against the wind in football I have always thought.

nice_guy80

yeah, pull midfielders and half forwards back to win breaking ball. don't let opposition catch anything - batting and break it.

But when ye win the ball drive it in low to yer forwards. they should have acres of space to operate in.
For goalie puckouts, pull both yer half forwards and midfielders out to the sidelines and puck the ball low to centre forward whos job is just to get it into full forward line anyway he can

Aidan_o_reilley

definitely consider options above.. keeper should hit the sliotar wit low trajectory with t decent amount of backspin to maintain the height, midfielder come short to the 65 for it then lash a low ball down the wing or cross field, this tactic never lets you down if you have practiced it in training and the corner forward is aware of the move and not ball watching as some corner players seem to do a lot of! for puck outs against you 1 person go up to bat it and have 1-2 others 3-4yards away waiting on the break, can easily be brought into a training session. against the wind pull half back line back to 45 and midfielders between own 45 & 65, this will compress the opposition forwards and make it much more difficult to score and at the same time leave loads of space for half forwards to recieve low balls and move the ball into the full forward line who should given the amount of space they should have cause havoc to the scoreboard. this approach will yield plenty of goals if corner & wing players keep there positions out near the sideline!
hope this helps:)