What I expect players to see and execute on the pitch.

It seems difficult for many youth players to understand that purposeful off-the-ball movement predicates the movement of the ball when attacking. There are so many advantages to moving without the ball it really is a wonder players do not embrace this idea more than they do.

If you watch a typical youth soccer game there certainly is off-the-ball movement but it will mainly consist of teammates of the ball carrier running in the same direction as the ball carrier and at the same pace as the ball carrier. These movements are usually accompanied by cries of "play me through" or "cross the ball!" Watch off-the-ball action when a cross is about to be made. Typically the potential targets for the cross are aligned with the crosser rather than trailing and staggered near to far.  In the grand scheme of things defenses like this type of straight line off-the-ball movement.  It is predictable and rather easily defended in comparision to other possibilities.

The purpose of off-the-ball movement is to move the defense.  I call it manipulating the defense. We want to move individual defenders in a manner that causes the defense to lose shape opening seams that our team can attack through. Purposeful off-the-ball movement can make attacking so much easier.

Let's look at some examples of purposeful off-the-ball movement.   A forward who makes a run at the backs only to execute a "V" cut and show back for the ball will 1) push the defense back and then 2) draw defenders forward as he receives the ball at his feet. This is simple target play but the benefits can be enormous. If the target forward plays the way he faces, that is he drops the ball back to a midfielder or his withdrawn partner forward and takes a diagonal step or two away from the pass, the defense is likely to step forward again opening up the possibility to play a third man running in behind the  defense.

Two forwards making simultaneous runs across the face of the defense can bring the defense to one side of the pitch. Whether the runs are diagonal or flat to be bent off, the first can often serve as a decoy to open space for the second runner to be played to. The combined movement of the two forwards in one direction across the defense can open space on the back side of their runs for a ball to be played into against the flow of the defense.

When the ball carrier is under light to moderate pressure a strong diagonal run toward him from in front can set up a wall pass or give and go sequence. This purposeful isolation of a single defender to play 2 v 1 against him is known as playing numbers up, something teams should want to do as often as possible both on attack and when defending.  The overlap sequence is another example of isolating a defender and playing 2 v 1 against him.  These are situations that create or extend time on the ball for the ball carrier and when combined with the type of forward play described above the effects on the defense can be devastating.

Simple switching of the attack forces a defense to move.  When accomplished through the backline the actual off-the-ball movement might be slight in terms of those actively involved in the switch, but what of the forwards and mids in front of the action? Player movement away from the eventual destination of the switch even as others are moving toward that destination forces the defenders to watch contrasting movement - do they follow the ball and general flow of play or mark the runners against the grain thereby guarding against a quick switch back by the attackers?

Deception, sneakiness or clever play are all a part of off-the-ball movement.   A simple takeover well executed can serve to change the flow of play and even the point of attack suddenly. If the player gaining possession on a takeover is able to pass to a player making a strong diagonal run in the original direction of play a double sudden change of attack can occur that correspondingly forces two quick changes of directions from defenders.

Introducing purposeful off-the-ball movement can be difficult and often requires a lot of pattern play followed by shadow play just to establish the ideas talked about in this article. Patience will be rquired.  Lots of explanations and demonstrations as to why players need to move purposefully without the ball will be necessary. Any means necessary to help players visualize and see the disruptions off-the-ball movement creates in a defense. You may have to sell  some on these ideas more than others.  Many players look at purposeful off-the-ball movement as a lot of work in comparision to how they have always been allowed to play and will be reluctant to buy-in until they experience success.  the effort put into teaching and developing purposeful off-the-ball movement will pay off in enhanced attacking play resulting in more goal scoring opportunites. And often in better goal scoring opportunities!