A team’s defense is, obviously, built on a formation and strategy.
To track a run, in the simplest terms, is to see where they’re running in an attempt to predict what’s next. If an opposing attacker moves into a passing lane, the second or third defender should follow and mark that player. Sometimes, however, forwards make runs to draw the defenders out of position. Defenders need to track each run and be able to judge the amount of danger created by each one. Try thinking about it like this — you wouldn’t bring checkers to a chess match, right? A team’s defense is, obviously, built on a formation and strategy. Whether this means a flat backline, diamond formation, or any other variation will depend on the team; however, the sentiment is the same: there is a game plan in play, so let it play out. That idea may not seem revolutionary or, perhaps, might feel redundant, but let’s break it down: