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This factor looks at how you can break through opposition defensive lines. It is, again, mainly limited to team invasion games.

For example, when defending in football, teams often set up in clear defensive lines:

• the defensive line
• the midfield line
• the attacking line

The team in possession need to try and break them down. Penetration means forward passes can go through the opposition lines. Once these penetrative passes get through each line, it eliminates the line of players it broke through and leaves the player in possession closer to the opposition goal.

However, some players may lack the bravery or the confidence to make such risky passes. Instead of trying to penetrate a defence, they play sideways. As a result, the ball is always in front of the opposition defensive lines who continue to keep several barriers up between the player in possession and the goal. Penetration is therefore a key tactic in invasion games.