Footy Eye
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Pinning and decoy runs

Pinning is movement whose job is to hold a defender in place, or drag him away, so a teammate gets the space.

Not every run is meant to receive the ball. A striker who holds the last line stops the back four stepping up; a winger who stays wide keeps the full-back from tucking in; a run across the box takes a centre-back with it.

These runs rarely appear on a highlight reel, but they decide where the space opens. The read is knowing when your best contribution is to stay where you are, or to move so someone else can arrive.

What to look for

  • Which defender is marking you, and the space he'd leave
  • A teammate arriving into the space behind you
  • Whether holding your position stops their line moving
  • Runs that cross and pull two markers together

The common mistakeComing short for the ball every time, which pulls your marker into the space your teammate needed.

Worked plays

8 plays from Footy Eye's training pool, with the best read and why.

  1. Play 1

    The situation
    They’re man-marking everywhere. Your winger checks hard inside and drags his marker with him. What’s the read?
    Best read
    Full-back into the space the winger emptied
    Why
    Against pure man-marking you can’t pass through the press; the markers follow the ball into every lane. So move a man instead: the winger’s run inside takes his marker, and the full-back attacks the flank he emptied before anyone recovers. Playing the winger’s feet is a pass into the man he just dragged with him.
    The other options
    • Play the winger’s feet where he showed His marker arrives with the ball and nicks it off the winger.
    • Hold it and wait for a lane Their presser closes you down with every lane still marked.
    • Skip the press and go long It’s a 50/50 up front, and possession is up for grabs.

  2. Play 2

    The situation
    Centre-forward. Your centre-back steps out with the ball and nobody meets him; their back line is backing off towards their box.
    Best read
    Hold the last shoulder, pin their line
    Why
    While a centre-back carries, your job is to hold their line where it is: every yard you drop is a yard their back four steps up into, and his grass disappears without them defending anything. Dropping in buys him an easy pass and costs him the run.
    The other options
    • Drop short into the pocket Their back line steps up with you, and his space is gone.
    • Peel wide into the channel Their centre-backs step up without you, and his space shrinks.
    • Spin in behind before the line drops You’re in behind too early, and he has no pass to play.

  3. Play 3

    The situation
    Your winger cuts inside onto his left foot to shoot. A defender is sliding across to block the lane.
    Best read
    Make a decoy run to drag the blocker
    Why
    The best run is sometimes one you never get the ball on. Sprint across the blocker’s eyeline and he has to follow, dragging the covering body out of your winger’s lane. Showing in the lane just puts you in the shot — elite movement bends the defence for someone else.
    The other options
    • Show for it in the shooting lane You step into the lane, and his shot cannons off you.
    • Charge the back post for a rebound The shot is charged down, and the rebound runs out for a corner.
    • Stand still, out of his way Nothing moves the blocker, and the shot thuds into him.

  4. Play 4

    The situation
    You’re the nine on the last line. The pass is going into your ten, and their centre-back wants to step onto him.
    Best read
    Hold the last line and pin the centre-back
    Why
    Your ten only has that pocket while the centre-back is stuck watching you. Stand on the line, in his eyeline, and he cannot step; leave it and he jumps the pass. The run in behind feels productive, but nobody is looking for it yet.
    The other options
    • Come short for the bounce pass You crowd your ten, and the centre-back steps in to squeeze you both.
    • Sprint in behind right now Your ten can’t see the run, and the centre-back jumps the pass.
    • Drift into the channel to drag the full-back You drift wide, the centre-back is freed, and he steps onto your ten.

  5. Play 5

    The situation
    Play is on the far side. You’re the wide winger and their full-back keeps glancing in, desperate to tuck across.
    Best read
    Stay high and wide, pinning the full-back
    Why
    Width you never use is still doing work: while you stand on that touchline he cannot tuck in, and their back four has to defend the full width. Come inside and you free him up and crowd the lane your eight is already in.
    The other options
    • Come inside into the half-space He tucks in behind you, and your eight’s lane gets crowded.
    • Drop deep and show for the switch He’s free to tuck in, and their back line narrows.
    • Run in behind him to stretch the line Nobody can find the run, and you’re offside when the switch comes.

  6. Play 6

    The situation
    You’re the winger. Your full-back has taken your touchline; their block is narrow. The centre-back brings it out. Where do you go?
    Best read
    Inside to the half-space, pin their centre-back
    Why
    Two players can’t own one lane: with your full-back on the chalk, their full-back marks both of you. Step into the half-space and their centre-back must choose between following you and holding the line, the question a narrow block least wants. Dropping short takes your depth away and drags a marker into the crowd.
    The other options
    • Drop short and give him an easy pass You come short into the crowd, and their midfielder follows you.
    • Stay wide, double up on the touchline Their full-back marks you both, and the touchline gets crowded.
    • Spin in behind now and stretch them The ball can’t reach you, and their full-back drops with you anyway.

Train it

Short untimed sessions with the reasoning after every answer.

Train Pinning and decoy runs

Test it

Ten plays, twenty seconds each, one Football IQ from 60 to 140.

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