Tactics

What is a tactic?

• A tactic is a specific way of carrying out a particular strategy and of applying in action principles of play common in games.

• The choice of tactic will often depend upon the time left and the score.

• The overall aim of a tactic is to play to your individual and team/group strengths, and to attempt to exploit your opponent’s weaknesses

In all competitive activities the aim is to win. A variety of tactics and strategies can be used to outwit and outmanoeuvre opponents. Before most activities begin, competitors have a ‘game plan’.

What tactics are being used in this race?

The front runner is trying to increase the pace early in the hope of building up a big enough lead and tire out the opposition.

The winner goes at his own pace streamlining behind the other runners.

• The same tactic is used in cycling with competitors using the leader as a windbreak to help them save energy.

Strengths and Weaknesses• When playing a

game you look to see what your opponents weakness is and try to exploit it. What tactic is being used here?

The player is playing the shuttle to his opponents weak backhand .

In badminton players play to their strengths.

Some players are more defensive and wait until their opponent makes a mistake rather than dictating the play.

Other players are more attack minded and use the tactic of all out attack to finish off the rally early

Long Ball

• In football or hockey teams sometimes use this tactic as a means to score a goal.

• The tactic uses a teams strength to good effect

• (i) Tall player up front, play balls long in the air for them to head the ball down for supporting players

• (ii) If you have fast attackers who can run on to the ball.

• Weakness opposition• (i) Small defenders• (ii) Slow defenders

A tactic used in Curling is to leave a stone in front of the target area to protect stones already there.

Marking Systems

In some activities, the type of defence used can change depending on what is happening during the game. In Basketball teams usually adopt a zone defence for the majority of the game.

Players defend the key to try and prevent the opposition getting close in to score an easy shot or lay up which results in long range shots being attempted more and usually missed.

Man to Man markingMan to man marking is where you mark a specific player and not a

space. This can be done in your own half (Half court man to man) or all over the court (Full Court man to man).

Half Court Man To ManThis defence happens when your team has lost possession of the ball and you

retreat into your own half and only mark up when your marker is

dangerous in your half of the court. This allows you to see clearly the

person you are marking and gives you a little breathing time.

Pros- More time and space to pick up marker, conserves energy.

Cons- Gives opposition time to regroup and set up an attacking play

Full Court Man to Man This defence happens when your team have missed a shot or have scored a basket. As soon as this

happen you look for your player and mark up. This defence usually occurs

when a team are losing or there is only a couple of minutes left of play. Since you are upon the opposition straight

away then the ball handler is immediately put under pressure as there is no space or time for a pass

resulting in a turn over. Pros- Puts ball handler under immediate trouble and forces

possession to be lost. Good for a few quick points in succession.

Cons- Very tiring, area under basket is congested which could result in a player not picking up their marker

player, open to quick ball over the top.

The black team have scored a basket and instead of retreating back they man mark straight away in an attempt to get a turn over and score another quick basket

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Effective communication• For your tactics to work it is important that you and

your team mates have good verbal and non verbal communication.

• In basketball, for example, you need to be able to respond to spoken instructions and advice from your teacher/coach and team mates as you change from defence to attack and back again.

• At times non-verbal signals may be more effective than verbal signals- When being marked tightly you can signal by (raising your arm, moving to the side, cutting and moving into space) this can work better than calling for the ball as opponents will be unaware of non verbal signals.H:\My Video\VTS_01_4.VOB