Receiving the ball

Worked example 1: how much space does a dodge make? An attacker fakes left, then sprints right at $5\mathrm{m}{\mathrm{s}}^{-1}5\backslash ,\backslash mathrm\{m\backslash ,s^\{-1\}\}$. The defender reacts to the real move 0.30 s late and then runs at the same speed (figures illustrative).

1. In the reaction time the attacker gains $5\times 0.30=1.5\mathrm{m}5\; \backslash times\; 0.30\; =\; 1.5\backslash ,\backslash mathrm\{m\}$.
2. While both run at the same speed, the gap stays at 1.5 m.
3. A pass of 6 m at $10\mathrm{m}{\mathrm{s}}^{-1}10\backslash ,\backslash mathrm\{m\backslash ,s^\{-1\}\}$ takes 0.6 s. If the passer throws it as the attacker breaks, it arrives while the gap is still 1.5 m, more than an arm's reach, so the defender cannot intercept it.

The gap depends on the defender's reaction time, not on speed. That is why a sharp, believable fake matters more than raw pace, and why a double dodge works on a defender who has learned to wait.

Worked example 2: the fewest passes to score from a centre pass. The centre pass is taken from the centre circle and must be caught or touched in the centre third; the ball must then be caught in each third it enters, and only the Goal Shooter or Goal Attack may shoot, from inside the goal circle.

1. Centre pass to the Wing Attack in the centre third: pass 1.
2. Wing Attack passes into the goal circle to the Goal Attack: pass 2.
3. The Goal Attack shoots.

So at least two passes are needed before a shot. If each catch is held for about 1 s and each pass is in the air for about 0.6 s, the fastest attack takes about $2\times (0.6+1)=3.2\mathrm{s}2\; \backslash times\; (0.6\; +\; 1)\; =\; 3.2\backslash ,\backslash mathrm\{s\}$ before the shot. Every extra pass adds about 1.6 s and another chance for an interception, so good receivers get free early, in the right place.