A good man ride is not about having every player chase the ball.

It is about working as a team to control where the clearing team can pass the ball.

The basic man ride starts with the clearing team in its L-clear setup. The riding team matches up with the players and looks for a way to create a trap.

The goal is to slow the clear down, force a difficult pass, and hopefully create a turnover or a failure to advance.

Start by Covering the Players

The first step is simple: match up with the clearing players.

The attackers cover the attackers. The midfielders cover the midfielders. The players farther downfield cover the defenders.

The riding team needs to account for the clearing team's extra player.

The clear is designed to use that extra player to create an open passing option. The ride needs to adjust for this instead of trying to cover everyone one-on-one.

Leave One Pass Open

The basic man ride does something very important.

Instead of trying to take away every possible pass, the riding team shuts off every pass except one.

That open pass becomes the trap.

The goalie sees an open player and may think it is the safest option.

But the riding team already knows what will happen when that pass is made.

Shift When the Pass Is Made

As soon as the goalie makes the pass, the riding team moves together.

In the example from the training breakdown:

  • Attacker 9 moves to the new ball carrier.

  • Attacker 8 shifts toward the goalie.

  • The other riders adjust to the new passing options.

The movement needs to happen immediately.

The goal is to make the next pass difficult before the clearing team has time to get comfortable.

Get in Front of the Ball Carrier

One important detail is the position of the rider moving toward the ball carrier.

The rider should move about 10 to 15 yards above the ball carrier.

Why?

Because the defender will usually start running upfield as soon as they receive the ball.

If the rider is behind the ball carrier, the defender can easily run away from the pressure.

By getting in front, the rider can slow the defender down and make it harder for them to advance.

Force the Long Pass

After the first shift, the riding team should again leave only one pass open.

This time, the open pass may be a long pass across the field.

That puts the clearing player in a difficult position.

They have two choices:

  1. Make the long pass.

  2. Try to run through the pressure.

The riding team wants to make both options difficult.

If the defender tries to carry the ball, the riders can work to push them toward the sideline and slow them down.

The Goal Is to Slow the Clear

The basic man ride is not always about immediately stealing the ball.

A big goal is to slow down the clear.

If the clearing team cannot move the ball upfield quickly, it may eventually be called for a failure to advance.

The riders are using pressure and time to make the clear harder.

Stay patient and keep forcing difficult decisions.

What If a Pass Gets Through?

Sometimes the rider won't get there in time.

That's going to happen.

If the ball carrier gets past the first rider, the defense needs to react as a team.

The closest midfielder should step up to cover the ball carrier.

Then the other midfielders adjust their positions to help cover the next passing options.

Don't Run Directly at the Defender

This is an important part of the recovery.

When a midfielder is trying to slow down the defender with the ball, they should run in front of the defender, not directly at them.

If the midfielder runs straight at the defender, the defender can easily run around them.

Instead, the midfielder should move into the defender's path and force them to slow down or change direction.

Use the Midfield Players

The midfielders are important when the first part of the ride breaks down.

The closest player steps up to the ball carrier while the other midfielders adjust behind the play.

The goal is to slow the ball carrier while still protecting against the next pass.

If the riding team can stall the ball carrier long enough, another defender can help and create a double team.

What If the Open Midfielder Gets the Ball?

If the clearing team successfully finds the open midfielder, the riding team doesn't need to panic.

The long pass gives the riders time to recover.

The midfielders can drop back into position and reset the ride.

The key is to move together and get organized again.

The Ride Works as One Unit

The most important lesson from the basic man ride is that the riders need to move together.

One player shifts.

The next player adjusts.

Then another player moves into position.

The team is constantly taking away passing options and forcing the clearing team toward the pass the defense wants them to make.