Why You Should Stop Positioning for a Midfield Pass
Rocket League will forever be an Esport that's easy to watch but hard to play. And that's why I think it's the best! If my mom and sister can understand what's going on, then I have hope that the 10,000 hours I've invested in this game will be worth something someday. However, I'm just a coach now, not a player. I used to compete back in the day, specifically in the top 48-64 RLCS range, and then I transitioned to coaching. I've worked in the top 16 RLCS for five years and with several colleges as well, bringing one team to the national level. I say work because yes, this is my full-time job, coaching, that is. And I make content to share what I've learned with all of you! It's good stuff, and it's battle-tested, so trust me (maybe!) In today's video, I'm reviewing a Rank BPlus player who's playing in a full-stack Rank A scrim. I provided some info in the earlier portion of the video about RL6Mans, which is what this is, but to simplify, it's essentially top 100 gameplay, very high Supersonic Legend. There's a lot that goes into semi-pro and pro Rocket League; this game is also incredibly situational, so I tend to brush past trivial or non-trending mistakes with high-level players, keep things rather general, and tackle the main issues going on. If there's any aspiring coaches, or maybe even players that like to think deeply about this game, I encourage you to simplify as much as possible. Rocket League is fast-paced, and you don't have the time to think too hard while playing. It's important to think deeply about some things, but when it comes to applicational training advice, the simpler, the better. I've looked at this player's gameplay for over a month now, so I'm officially confident in building on their playstyle. They're a 2nd man at heart, which is rare, as most players prefer to play a 1st or 3rd man role. Instead, they like to position in the midfield and force plays through challenges and ball cuts to set up their teammates. After watching a couple minutes of their gameplay, I noticed they habitually killed their momentum in the midfield, specifically on offense. On paper, it makes sense to position in the midfield for a backboard rebound or pass, but as players move into higher levels of Rocket League, that option no longer exists. You may be asking yourself, "Why?" Well, the answer is simple. Players play backboard defense and rarely lose control of the ball. Oh, and then they also cut and demo from behind. This player's loss of midfield momentum was the reason they were missing their challenges and shots and not getting a lot of time to use their mechanics. Overall, I wanted them to be more proactive off the ball with their movement while positioned in the midfield, so I provided them with several play options. Obviously, they can continue doing what they're doing, as that's an option. Positioning isn't bad, but it shouldn't be the only option. If the play calls for it, I recommended they continue their momentum forward to rotate, demo, and steal a corner boost, and then retake their midfield position to play a cut pass or rotate out altogether to play a 3rd man role. I also encouraged them to space out and play a deeper position to avoid getting cut or demoed. It's not necessarily about playing the right option, but more so keeping continuous momentum to cover a wide range of options. Rocket League is an extremely flow-based game, especially at the highest levels, and it's better to miss out on an opportunity than to sit and wait too long for a single opportunity. All in all, my goal with this review was to provide this player with more 2nd-man options to maximize their playstyle. I also wanted them to experiment with their appetite for risk. They would habitually sit in the midfield without momentum, which is incredibly risky, but they also habitually faked their challenges. It's not always move or rotate in a position. It's not always dive or ego challenge the ball. It's about being diverse and comfortable with every option in a given play. That's what high-level Rocket League is all about. Have a great day, car ballers.
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Timestamps:
Getting Into the Game – 0:00
Midfield Play Timing Issues – 2:08
Autopilot Rotations and Positioning – 4:20
Being More Proactive off the Ball – 7:27
Challenge and 50/50 Quality – 12:49
Avoiding the Midfield Sit – 14:50
Wrapping up the Review – 16:48
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