How Space Occupation and Variations on the Field Impact Offensive and Defensive Performance

08 Oct How Space Occupation and Variations on the Field Impact Offensive and Defensive Performance

In professional football, occupying space on the field effectively is key to achieving good results, both in attack and defense. This research, conducted on LALIGA EA Sports 2023/24 season matches, not only analyzes the use of space in terms of width and depth but also how variations from each team’s average space occupation affect their performance. The results can help you, as a coach, adjust your training plans and strategies during competition.

Key Results Applicable to Training:

1. Offensive area and goals scored: how varying offensive space can generate more goals The research shows that teams that expand their offensive area beyond their usual average tend to generate more goals. In several matches, it was observed that when teams in possession increased their space occupation above their average, they also managed to score more goals. Practical application: In training, it’s important to teach players to recognize when it’s necessary to expand the field to generate more attacking opportunities. Work on width and depth drills where the team practices expanding their area when possible, without compromising possession. Tactical flexibility in this phase is crucial to improving offensive performance.
2. Defensive area and goals conceded: managing defensive variations doesn’t always guarantee success In defense, the research revealed that reducing the defensive area isn’t always beneficial. In fact, in some cases, teams that occupied more space defensively conceded fewer goals. Variations from a team’s defensive average didn’t always correlate directly with fewer goals conceded. Practical application: This suggests that compact defensive setups are not always the only effective strategy. In your defensive planning, you should train your team to adapt to different scenarios. Some matches may require a more open defense to better control key areas, while others may benefit from a more compact defense. Not all teams need to reduce their defensive area to be effective.
3. Tactical variations: how adjusting the area of occupation during a match makes the difference A key aspect of the study is that adjusting the area of occupation during the match, both in attack and defense, can change the course of the game. Teams that were able to adapt their space occupation according to the match circumstances (whether expanding it in attack or adjusting it in defense) showed better results. Practical application: As a coach, it’s important to teach players to read the game and adjust their positioning. Train your team to expand the field when needed for attacking and compress it when they need to protect their defense. The ability to tactically vary space occupation can provide a critical competitive advantage.

Conclusion: how to apply these results in daily training

This research highlights not only the importance of space occupation but also how variations from the average can influence a team’s performance. As a coach, you can use these findings to adjust your training plans, preparing your players to be flexible in their space occupation, both in attack and defense.

Training the ability to adjust to variations in width and depth, both above and below the usual average, will help your team be more adaptable and maximize their performance in different scenarios. These findings are backed by solid research conducted in the 380 matches of LALIGA EA Sports 2023/24.