Any team adopt a man marking system for 5 a side?

[goalie23]

It's not indoors but I play in a fairly large 5 a side pitch, goals slightly larger than futsal. Currently we line up in a zonal system unfortunately I play with lazy outfielders. Apart from the first 5 minutes, my players never seem to track back. They expand all the energy moving up and consequently I always end up making saves with the opposition players outnumbering my players. I thought it might improve our defense if we adopted a man to man marking system.

Any comment/advice?

[Kevin8833]

It's not indoors but I play in a fairly large 5 a side pitch, goals slightly larger than futsal. Currently we line up in a zonal system unfortunately I play with lazy outfielders. Apart from the first 5 minutes, my players never seem to track back. They expand all the energy moving up and consequently I always end up making saves with the opposition players outnumbering my players. I thought it might improve our defense if we adopted a man to man marking system.

Any comment/advice?
Probably not why would telling them your man-marking instead of zonal marking make them track back? Zonal system is much better just keep getting on them to get back until they do.

[JoseP]

Any comment/advice?

I'd like to play against your team. A dream come true - you beat one defender and you've got an easy goal.

You don't need a lot of defenders with only 5 players. Let the other players stay open and you'll have an outlet to get it forward when the turnover happens.

[goalie23]

Apparently futsal teams adopted a man marking system in the past. I was wondering if anyone knew something about this.

[ranova]

...unfortunately I play with lazy outfielders...I thought it might improve our defense if we adopted a man to man marking system.

Two problems with straight man to man: 1) it requires a lot more effort from the "lazy outfielders" (even if its half-line marking rather than end to end) and 2) even if defending with "gusto" its very easy to break down by pulling the defending backs out of position by retreating up field thereby creating space near the goal for teammates to run into. To counter this tactic is why the modified zone defense was developed in the first place. (Modified zone defense in this sense meaning man-to-man marking within a defined zone. This prevents the backs from chasing men until they leave the back exposed.)

An easy way to explain the work load difference is that with a zone defense, the defense has the advantage of adjusting a shorter distance when the attackers shift from side to side or front to back. In man to man, the markers have to keep up with the attackers where ever they go.