Okuzeka
Football (Soccer) vocabulary · Formations & Tactics

Rest defence

Meaning in football (soccer), with examples

nounAdvanced term

In football (soccer), rest defence means: The positioning of players during an attack to control danger if their team loses the ball.

In Turkish: hücumdayken savunma güvenliği

How it is used

Rest here does not mean taking a break; it concerns the defensive support behind an attack.

Example sentences

  1. Our rest defence left two centre-backs exposed when the cross was cleared.

    The problem was created by positions taken before possession changed.

  2. The coach adjusted the rest defence while the team practised attacks.

    Attacking practice also considers protection against the next counter.

Common collocations

  • organise rest defence
  • rest-defence structure
  • maintain rest defence
  • counter-attackA fast attack launched straight after winning the ball back, aiming to score before the opponents can reorganise their defence.
  • formationThe way a team arranges its outfield players on the pitch, written as numbers from defence to attack, such as 4-4-2 or 4-3-3.

More terms: Formations & Tactics

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