Force them towards the sideline or in the middle on the ride?
Over the years I have generally come across two schools of thought on the ride.
1) Force them towards the middle
Advantages:
- There is help towards the middle of the field
- The player has to run further
- A turn over in the middle puts you an excellent position for a fast break the other way
Disadvantages
- Makes it easier to pass the ball to a teammate
- A talented fast player with the ball will have more room to operate
2) Force them towards the sideline
Advantages:
- The sideline can be used as an extra defender
- It is easier to corner a fast player between the riding attack and the your midfielder waiting for him at the midfield line, thus leaving the ball carrier with nowhere to go but out of bounds.
- Makes the pass much longer and harder to see and require more discipline.
Disadvantages
- A turn over will more then likely be due to the ball going out of bounds thereby eliminating the opportunity for a fast break the other as the other team will have time to get back and set.
- Your team will be shifted over to one side thus a well coached clearing team will roll back and reverse field leaving the other side open.