When teaching target play I try to keep things as simple as possible. I provide limited guidelines and allow the player to problem solve in-game. We then use a handful of training exercises that accentuate specific aspects of target play. In today's writing I am going to provide the guidelines and a more in-depth explanation of target play than I usually provide a player to help the reader gain the understanding playing and training for the position would otherwise provide.
My guidelines to target players are short, sweet and directly to the point:
1) Play back to goal.
2) Play the way you face.
3) Make a safe pass.
That's it.
I am a firm believer in providing limited guidelines then allowing the player to explore a position to the fullest extent his imagination will allow for.
To provide a written (or oral) explanation of positional responsibilities for a target player I think it best to do it by phase of play beginning with when his team is defending. More specifically we will begin with looking at the target's play when his team is in it's defending third of the field.
Defending Third
The target player must be available to receive the ball from a teammate. This involves facing his teammates with his back to the goal they will be attempting to score in. We see many the player who stand near the center line watching their teammates compete for and hopefully win the ball. Then they look to be played through. This is not target play. This is lazy, unimaginative and predictable play.
We want the target player to be constantly adjusting his position. Every time the ball moves on the pitch, the target player must also be in motion. The key consideration for the target player is to be in a clear line of sight of the teammate closest to the ball so that when that teammate secures possession the target is in his vision early. This will entail a lot of laterally movement on the pitch mixed in with limited vertical movement in establishing the clear line of sight.
Identify the type of defense you are going against. Zonal defenses and man marking defenses each provide slightly different problems to solve. For example, if man-marked the target player will need not only work to provide a clear line of sight to the teammate closest to the ball, but he will also need to gain separation from his mark in order to receive the ball cleanly. This will involve a lot of misdirection play on the target's part. Check away before checking to in the form of "V" cuts as an example. Against a zonal system defenders may not closely man-mark the defender preferring to stay in their zonal channel. The target will set up between lines - in front of the backs and behind the midfielders. This may change the defenders path to the ball from being in line with that of the target. If this is the case, the target will have to account for this in his movements so he can shield the defender from the ball as he would if tightly man-marked.
A secondary yet very important consideration is to keep the defender responsible for you from being in the clear line of sight to your teammate closest to the ball. Make the defender choose between watching you and watching the ball. You may choose to play off to the side of the clear line of sight before bending off a check back run to the clear line of sight. You might decide to play behind the defender, even in an offside position, before checking into and back through the clear line of sight to your teammate closest to the ball,
Upon receiving the ball, and especially so when under defensive pressure, it is critically important for the target to play the way he faces. The drop pass is the currency of value in target play. Picture in your mind the target player checking back in the line of sight of his teammate closest to the ball. A (pressure) defender is in close pursuit. A good defensive team will have cover (and balance) being provided behind the pressure defender. In effect 2 to 3 defenders will be stepping in the same direction the target is checking back in.
This is the manipulation of the defense target play is designed to exploit. When a drop pass is executed defenders will have 3 options for play and most will choose one of two that are advantageous to the attacking team. First, they let up and stop their forward movement. Secondly they may choose to continue pursuing the ball! The third option would be to immediately give ground towards their own goal in anticipation of the through ball that is about to come off the drop pass action.
The third option is obviously the choice of a good defense. How many high school teams do you know who are coached well enough to execute this tactic effectively? Most zonal teams cannot even execute an early retreat effectively. A sweeper may lie in deep and provide a more effective defense against the drop and through tactic, but only if options for the through ball are limited. If a runner is available on each flank the sweeper will need to choose correctly and win the through ball or be open to being beaten by an early cross back against his movement to the through ball.
Of course, this is all predicated on the target player executing a safe pass while playing the way he faces. Dropping the ball to his partner forward (in a 2 forward system), to a midfielder or even an on-coming back who will then play the ball forward. It is this forward movement of the ball in conjunction with playing back to goal and playing the way he faces that preserves the negative space behind the opponents back line to be played in by teammates moving forward at pace. This is what we call Playing Space with Pace or Space and Pace for short.
It is important to realize that the more successful you are as a target player the more attention you will draw from opponents. When this occurs your teammates may find it easier to play very direct once in a while to keep the defense honest. It is extremely important the target player continues and finishes his basic checking back in the clear line of sight of his teammate closest to the ball. Just as the long direct through ball is meant to keep the defense honest so to is the continued and now somewhat predictable movement of the target. Make the defense choose which option they will defend. They cannot defend both and any indecisiveness on the defenses part may find them defending neither. Than the fun really begins!
Middle Third
In the counter attack it is likely a second player will be required to assume target responsibilities. If the through ball does not result in playing an attacker in behind the defense with a clear path to goal it will be necessary to re-establish target play.
One of my pet peeves is to see an attacker carrying the ball at a defense with teammates running in the same direction and at the same pace as the ball is being advanced. This is STUPID soccer.
What needs to happen is one teammate pushing forward at a faster pace than the ball is being advanced, then turning and sitting as a target for the ball to hold those retreating backs and preserve the negative space behind them. It might be necessary for the ball carrier to not advance at full pace to allow target play in front of him to redevelop. If there are simultaneous forward runs ahead of the ball this poses multiple problems for the defense to deal with. Whereas all attackers moving at the same pace in the same direction of the ball is terribly predictable and easily defended, having varying tactical scenarios and paces of play to contend with is a defending nightmare.
The target in the middle third of the field has the same duties as the target in the defending third of the field. Establish a clear line of sight between himself and the ball carrier.
The target is the focal point in establishing a numbers up situation for his team to exploit.
In this regard the target must discern which defender will step to meet the threat of the ball carrier and then adjust his positioning to create a situation where that defender must choose between the movement of the ball and the movement of the target player. If the ball is passed to the target players feet, where will the defender choose to place his focus? This is the foundational premise the cues for combination passing are based upon.
While back to goal play is still the basis of target play in the middle third of the field there will be opportunities to play sideways on and receiving the ball across the body. This is part of the sequences of cues for combination passes referenced above. It might be the target can turn towards goal and advance the ball himself. This is perfectly acceptable if the target is not receiving the ball under heavy pressure. This provides another dimension of unpredictability for a defense to contend with... as long as it does not become consistent and thereby predictable in and of itself.
Final or Attacking Third
If we are to continue with target playing in the final third of the pitch, I prefer the target sets up along the top of the penalty area and outside the width of the goal area or 6 yard "box". We wish to keep the space in front of the face of goal free to play in and should only move into this area when we are ready to strike on goal. Quick one touch passing and flicks are the order of the day to play teammates in for a shot on goal. Assorted turns utilizing the pace and path of passes to the targets feet can be used to generate shots on goal for the target. Again, vary which options you select to keep defenders off balance and guessing instead of allowing them to sit on your predictability.
If you have the luxury of having a tall target player he may continue being the main focal point for crosses, corner kicks and free kicks. Balls played to be headed can be redirected down to a teammates feet for a shot or redirected as a secondary cross to a teammate.
The Target Player as a Defender
When the ball is lost in the attacking or final third of the pitch immediate and intense pressure should be applied by the target player whenever possible.
In the middle third of the field the target players responsibility is to cut the field in half vertically to cut off any crosses to switch the field. Make the attack as predictable as possible for your teammates to defend against.
In the defending third of the field, well, now we are back to where be began this article.
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Showing posts with label Target Forward. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Target Forward. Show all posts
Monday
Friday
Single Forward Formations and Systems of Play
The 4-2-3-1 and other single forward formations and associated systems of play are the current trend in high school and cub soccer. I am seeing some teams employing these systems really struggle to score and others utilizing these systems scoring seemingly at will. Is there a common theme that separates the two?
Yes.
A friend who coaches college soccer believes if you are going to play a single forward system you must have an absolute stud playing forward. I do agree that this makes it a lot easier. Our spring club had two absolute studs to man the position. We could be a very prolific scoring team and rarely did we really struggle to mount dangerous attacks.
That said, it is my belief that you need an aggressive, disciplined, physical and speedy player to man the forward position in a single forward system of play. He does not necessarily need to be a dynamic goal scorer.
My son's high school team plays a 4-2-3-1 but is struggling to score goals. In my mind, the main issue is their two best options for manning the target forward position are not doing so. One is playing center back. He is a workhorse. Matthew played back to goal target for our spring team and did a really nice job. He's not the type who can receive and go to goal, but he improved his discipline throughout the spring season, is ultra aggressive and plenty physical and speedy enough to man the position. The second player is a foreign exchange student by the name of Geovanni. This kid is bigger physically, has a good sense about back to goal play and is a rugged player. Again. I don't think he has the skill set or pure speed to be a dynamic scoring threat by himself but he does create scoring opportunities and has an ability to get crosses off under pressure.
The player my sons team is using as a target plays back to goal well, but he is not the physical presence nor does he possess the speed necessary for the position. He is in fact a center back for his club team. Jack gets by as a target forward because he's smart. He plays the position with his brain and is disciplined in doing so. That makes him passable as a target player. It's probably not his ideal position though. And if we are honest about it, he is not a good fit for the target position in regards to how the outside midfielders are manning their positions in his teams system of play.
Ideally the central striker or #9 position will be manned by a player with the following qualities:
1) Great first touch
2) Speed with the ball
3) Ability to shield the ball
4) A solid understanding and command of combination passing
5) Technically and tactically sound passer
6) Ability to cross, shoot and head the soccer ball
7) An understanding of positioning
8) Competent decision making
9) An aggressive mentality
10) Supreme self-confidence.
11) A tireless and relentless work ethic.
No player is going to possess all of the above, but if you are going to run a one forward system you need a player who can fill most of the above with a reasonable degree of aptitude.
One of the first questions to be answered when deciding on a single forward system must be, does the team have a player who can play effectively as the single forward?
Yes.
A friend who coaches college soccer believes if you are going to play a single forward system you must have an absolute stud playing forward. I do agree that this makes it a lot easier. Our spring club had two absolute studs to man the position. We could be a very prolific scoring team and rarely did we really struggle to mount dangerous attacks.
That said, it is my belief that you need an aggressive, disciplined, physical and speedy player to man the forward position in a single forward system of play. He does not necessarily need to be a dynamic goal scorer.
My son's high school team plays a 4-2-3-1 but is struggling to score goals. In my mind, the main issue is their two best options for manning the target forward position are not doing so. One is playing center back. He is a workhorse. Matthew played back to goal target for our spring team and did a really nice job. He's not the type who can receive and go to goal, but he improved his discipline throughout the spring season, is ultra aggressive and plenty physical and speedy enough to man the position. The second player is a foreign exchange student by the name of Geovanni. This kid is bigger physically, has a good sense about back to goal play and is a rugged player. Again. I don't think he has the skill set or pure speed to be a dynamic scoring threat by himself but he does create scoring opportunities and has an ability to get crosses off under pressure.
The player my sons team is using as a target plays back to goal well, but he is not the physical presence nor does he possess the speed necessary for the position. He is in fact a center back for his club team. Jack gets by as a target forward because he's smart. He plays the position with his brain and is disciplined in doing so. That makes him passable as a target player. It's probably not his ideal position though. And if we are honest about it, he is not a good fit for the target position in regards to how the outside midfielders are manning their positions in his teams system of play.
Ideally the central striker or #9 position will be manned by a player with the following qualities:
1) Great first touch
2) Speed with the ball
3) Ability to shield the ball
4) A solid understanding and command of combination passing
5) Technically and tactically sound passer
6) Ability to cross, shoot and head the soccer ball
7) An understanding of positioning
8) Competent decision making
9) An aggressive mentality
10) Supreme self-confidence.
11) A tireless and relentless work ethic.
No player is going to possess all of the above, but if you are going to run a one forward system you need a player who can fill most of the above with a reasonable degree of aptitude.
One of the first questions to be answered when deciding on a single forward system must be, does the team have a player who can play effectively as the single forward?
Thursday
Wednesday
Where to play someone
During a recent question and answer period concluding a coaching clinic I had mentioned the need for center midfielders to be 360 degree players. This sparked further questions concerning where to play someone based on how they approach the game.
This is actually something I have studied quite a bit over the years. I don't have it down to an exact science, but I do feel there are certain indicators that can help point the way dependent somewhat on the training circumstances available to the player and his team.
A 360 degree player is one who is comfortable playing in any direction on the pitch. This ability obviously comes in handy for central midfielders. However, in the ever increasing single forward / target forward systems of today this type of player is highly prized as a target forward as well.
My answer to questions about filling positions was to designate players by their strengths in play to a position that requires those strengths be accentuated to fulfill the expectations for the position
We had just spent a half hour or so discussing the need for players to play the way they face being a requirement for possession play. A specific question posed was "where to play the player who wants to turn and go to goal?" Well, obviously this player would not fare well as a central midfielder or as a target forward. All too often he would be self-inflicting pressure by turning into defenders. This is the type of player who will need to play facing the goal. So, my response to the question was in the form of another question, where should a player who wants to face goal play?
The obvious answers are 1) as a defender and 2) possibly on the flank as a wing player.
A rather animated discussion followed as one of the coaches spoke of a player who likes to turn and go to goal being his best goal scoring option. It was as if the only place he could be played was as a forward or as an attacking mid. I replied with yet another question, why can't a defender score goals?
I went on to explain how on our spring teams defenders were regular contributors to the attack both as assisters and goal scorers. You need an aggressive defender who is offensive minded to man the outside back positions in many of todays zonal systems. The coach, after some reflection, commented that I had just described his "forward" who struggled to play the way he faced.
If you do not have the time to work with such a player to teach him how to and the benefits of playing back to goal and playing the way he faces, why not save everyone a lot of stress and allow the player to play as his instincts tell him to - facing the goal and with your approval to "get forward into the attack?"
The next question to surface was, "who do I play at forward, then?" Again I countered with a question, what do you want in a target player?
Typically we want a target player to be big and strong. Capable of receiving under pressure, shielding the ball and playing the way he faces. It's great to have speed, but not absolutely necessary. Remember, a primary purpose of playing to a target player who then drops the ball back is to allow teammates to join the attack. Do we really want a target player who always turns and attempts to go 1 v 3 or 1 v 4 against the opponents defense? Of course not!
The target player who can receive, shield and drop the ball back allows for teammates to join him in the attack creating more favorable conditions and increasing the chances for success in the attack. All we are talking about is two passes before turning and attacking goal at pace. 1) Play to the feet of the target player who 2) plays back to the feet of a midfielder. The precious few seconds that sequence takes allows teammates, who are running at goal, to come forward enough to be active participants in the attack instead of being trailers in the attack.
We were shooed from the building at about this time. I would have liked to continued the discussion. Perhaps another day? For now, the proverbial light bulb seemed to go off in the coaches mind during the course of this discussion. I could see the wheels churning as he pondered changing the positional assignments of some players on his team. I'm anxious to get back out to see the team to see what he has implemented.
This is actually something I have studied quite a bit over the years. I don't have it down to an exact science, but I do feel there are certain indicators that can help point the way dependent somewhat on the training circumstances available to the player and his team.
A 360 degree player is one who is comfortable playing in any direction on the pitch. This ability obviously comes in handy for central midfielders. However, in the ever increasing single forward / target forward systems of today this type of player is highly prized as a target forward as well.
My answer to questions about filling positions was to designate players by their strengths in play to a position that requires those strengths be accentuated to fulfill the expectations for the position
We had just spent a half hour or so discussing the need for players to play the way they face being a requirement for possession play. A specific question posed was "where to play the player who wants to turn and go to goal?" Well, obviously this player would not fare well as a central midfielder or as a target forward. All too often he would be self-inflicting pressure by turning into defenders. This is the type of player who will need to play facing the goal. So, my response to the question was in the form of another question, where should a player who wants to face goal play?
The obvious answers are 1) as a defender and 2) possibly on the flank as a wing player.
A rather animated discussion followed as one of the coaches spoke of a player who likes to turn and go to goal being his best goal scoring option. It was as if the only place he could be played was as a forward or as an attacking mid. I replied with yet another question, why can't a defender score goals?
I went on to explain how on our spring teams defenders were regular contributors to the attack both as assisters and goal scorers. You need an aggressive defender who is offensive minded to man the outside back positions in many of todays zonal systems. The coach, after some reflection, commented that I had just described his "forward" who struggled to play the way he faced.
If you do not have the time to work with such a player to teach him how to and the benefits of playing back to goal and playing the way he faces, why not save everyone a lot of stress and allow the player to play as his instincts tell him to - facing the goal and with your approval to "get forward into the attack?"
The next question to surface was, "who do I play at forward, then?" Again I countered with a question, what do you want in a target player?
Typically we want a target player to be big and strong. Capable of receiving under pressure, shielding the ball and playing the way he faces. It's great to have speed, but not absolutely necessary. Remember, a primary purpose of playing to a target player who then drops the ball back is to allow teammates to join the attack. Do we really want a target player who always turns and attempts to go 1 v 3 or 1 v 4 against the opponents defense? Of course not!
The target player who can receive, shield and drop the ball back allows for teammates to join him in the attack creating more favorable conditions and increasing the chances for success in the attack. All we are talking about is two passes before turning and attacking goal at pace. 1) Play to the feet of the target player who 2) plays back to the feet of a midfielder. The precious few seconds that sequence takes allows teammates, who are running at goal, to come forward enough to be active participants in the attack instead of being trailers in the attack.
We were shooed from the building at about this time. I would have liked to continued the discussion. Perhaps another day? For now, the proverbial light bulb seemed to go off in the coaches mind during the course of this discussion. I could see the wheels churning as he pondered changing the positional assignments of some players on his team. I'm anxious to get back out to see the team to see what he has implemented.
Monday
Every time I think I have seen it all....
About a dozen years ago I was coaching a U12 team for Grand Lake United. Our first match was at home and we were all excited to get the season underway. Not knowing anything about our opponent, I was a bit nervous and more than a little curious to see how our team would perform. Most teams were running 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 formations back in those days and I anticipated we would see one or the other. Ha! That opponent came out in a 1-1-9 formation, I kid you not. They overwhelmed us in the first half. We made some adjustments for the second half and held our own losing 5 - 2 if I recall correct. To say I was a bit miffed about the unconventional line up would be an understatement.
To finish this story before moving on to the subject of today's writings - we game planned for their 1-1-9 formation when we played them again. I put a big.strong, fast player at forward and packed everyone else in. We played long balls to our forward who out ran their defender time and time again. Final score of 6-0 in our favor and a league title secured.
Tonight I went to scout Bluffton at Wapakoneta with my son since his team will play both of these sides later this season. I'm still a bit shocked or stunned by what we witnessed tonight. Wapakoneta came out in a 3-5-2 but it was anything but conventional.
The left back and center back never advanced beyond their own 25 yard line for much of the first half.
Allow that to sink in for a minute. This is a varsity high school soccer match and 2 of the backs never advanced beyond their own 25 yard line.I've not seen anything like it since I last coached U Littles and coaches would hold their defenders at their own 6 yard line.
The right back would advance to the bottom of the center circle to perhaps the center line and played centrally when he did so.
Picture this as a GK with a center back and a left back each in their roles but positioned 25 yards out from their own goal. Meanwhile the right back has moved centrally and up to bottom half of the center circle. There is no defender on the right side of their formation.
Two defensive mids played at the top of the center circle and together with the right back now in the middle of the pitch formed a loose triangle. Their roles seemingly to keep the ball pushed into their attacking third.
In front of this 1-2-1-2 alignment were three midfielders spread across the width of the pitch and two forwards paired together on top. A 1-2-1-2-3-2 formation. They played 5 on defense and 5 when attacking. In doing so they strung out the Bluffton team shape turning the game into something resembling a 3 zone practice game with players spread out over the length of the field. This played well into Wapakoneta's strategy to use the speed and skill of their front 6 or 7 players. They did their best to turn this soccer match into a track meet.
Wapakoneta is very dynamic on the attack and they have to be for they are not nearly as strong defensively. They have to spread opponents out in order to take advantage of their team speed and pace of play. I believe there is a realization on the coaches part that they probably have to win games in shootout fashion as they did in tonight's 6 - 5 victory.
That is the key to defeating them.
If I were coaching against that system of play, I would draw the line of confrontation at our own 40 yard line packing 9 or even 10 players into that area with a target forward or two playing in front of their backs. The idea would be to confine all that straight line speed into a small area and take away their direct play. It also might be possible to lure their defenders out a bit more exposing their teams weaknesses further.
Another option that I originally considered was to play a 4-2-3-1 version of a 4-3-3 against them and put the target ball side behind their centrally located advanced right back and in front of their deeply withdrawn center back and left back. Another option might be to play a 4-3-1-2 and advance the two wingers to wide positions behind the advanced and centrally located right back and in front of the center back and left back. This might work provided your speed and pace of play could match or exceed theirs.
Then the fun really began as Wapakoneta changed formations to a 4-3-3 and eventually a 4-4-2. The four in the back looked flat at times but was actually a sweeper with 3 backs covering the width of the field in front of him. There were 1 or 2 defensive mids dependent on formation and position of the ball on the pitch. The one constant was deeply withdrawn defenders.
The constantly changing lineups served to confuse Bluffton if only momentarily. The realization that regardless of what formation Wapakoneta aligned themselves in the system of play remained the same settled in. They want to stretch the field and especially the opponents formation vertically. Most of Wapakoneta's play was inside the 44 yard width of the penalty areas. They did play to the flanks and their speedy wings in the attacking third of the pitch but very little up to that point. They also defended within the same 44 yard width only venturing outside to defend crosses or balls played into the outside channels Their focus was on keeping the ball centrally where they could use their straight line speed to their best advantage.
Clever coaching by the Wapakoneta staff. They bait their trap well and get teams to fall right in. It is refreshing in sense to see an innovative or at least unconventional approach to the game. It's a bit of a gimmick system but well thought out and well executed. It is obvious most of the Wapakoneta players are buying in and believing in it.
I am reminded of the Loyola Marymount basketball teams of coach Paul Westhead of the late 1980's and early 1990's. Their best defense was a devastating fast paced offensive attack that saw them want to get a shot off in 7 seconds or less of each possession. Wapakoneta's best defense is their offense. It is a classic case of playing to strength and doing your best to disguise weakness. It's working well for them and they will continue to find success until teams adjust.
Tonight's match between Wapakoneta and Bluffton was as entertaining as any have seen recently even if, or perhaps because, it was so unconventional. Wore me out just watching the end to end action!
Oh, yeah, the final was Wapakoneta 6 Bluffton 5, but that wasn't the real story.
To finish this story before moving on to the subject of today's writings - we game planned for their 1-1-9 formation when we played them again. I put a big.strong, fast player at forward and packed everyone else in. We played long balls to our forward who out ran their defender time and time again. Final score of 6-0 in our favor and a league title secured.
Tonight I went to scout Bluffton at Wapakoneta with my son since his team will play both of these sides later this season. I'm still a bit shocked or stunned by what we witnessed tonight. Wapakoneta came out in a 3-5-2 but it was anything but conventional.
The left back and center back never advanced beyond their own 25 yard line for much of the first half.
Allow that to sink in for a minute. This is a varsity high school soccer match and 2 of the backs never advanced beyond their own 25 yard line.I've not seen anything like it since I last coached U Littles and coaches would hold their defenders at their own 6 yard line.
The right back would advance to the bottom of the center circle to perhaps the center line and played centrally when he did so.
Picture this as a GK with a center back and a left back each in their roles but positioned 25 yards out from their own goal. Meanwhile the right back has moved centrally and up to bottom half of the center circle. There is no defender on the right side of their formation.
Two defensive mids played at the top of the center circle and together with the right back now in the middle of the pitch formed a loose triangle. Their roles seemingly to keep the ball pushed into their attacking third.
In front of this 1-2-1-2 alignment were three midfielders spread across the width of the pitch and two forwards paired together on top. A 1-2-1-2-3-2 formation. They played 5 on defense and 5 when attacking. In doing so they strung out the Bluffton team shape turning the game into something resembling a 3 zone practice game with players spread out over the length of the field. This played well into Wapakoneta's strategy to use the speed and skill of their front 6 or 7 players. They did their best to turn this soccer match into a track meet.
Wapakoneta is very dynamic on the attack and they have to be for they are not nearly as strong defensively. They have to spread opponents out in order to take advantage of their team speed and pace of play. I believe there is a realization on the coaches part that they probably have to win games in shootout fashion as they did in tonight's 6 - 5 victory.
That is the key to defeating them.
If I were coaching against that system of play, I would draw the line of confrontation at our own 40 yard line packing 9 or even 10 players into that area with a target forward or two playing in front of their backs. The idea would be to confine all that straight line speed into a small area and take away their direct play. It also might be possible to lure their defenders out a bit more exposing their teams weaknesses further.
Another option that I originally considered was to play a 4-2-3-1 version of a 4-3-3 against them and put the target ball side behind their centrally located advanced right back and in front of their deeply withdrawn center back and left back. Another option might be to play a 4-3-1-2 and advance the two wingers to wide positions behind the advanced and centrally located right back and in front of the center back and left back. This might work provided your speed and pace of play could match or exceed theirs.
Then the fun really began as Wapakoneta changed formations to a 4-3-3 and eventually a 4-4-2. The four in the back looked flat at times but was actually a sweeper with 3 backs covering the width of the field in front of him. There were 1 or 2 defensive mids dependent on formation and position of the ball on the pitch. The one constant was deeply withdrawn defenders.
The constantly changing lineups served to confuse Bluffton if only momentarily. The realization that regardless of what formation Wapakoneta aligned themselves in the system of play remained the same settled in. They want to stretch the field and especially the opponents formation vertically. Most of Wapakoneta's play was inside the 44 yard width of the penalty areas. They did play to the flanks and their speedy wings in the attacking third of the pitch but very little up to that point. They also defended within the same 44 yard width only venturing outside to defend crosses or balls played into the outside channels Their focus was on keeping the ball centrally where they could use their straight line speed to their best advantage.
Clever coaching by the Wapakoneta staff. They bait their trap well and get teams to fall right in. It is refreshing in sense to see an innovative or at least unconventional approach to the game. It's a bit of a gimmick system but well thought out and well executed. It is obvious most of the Wapakoneta players are buying in and believing in it.
I am reminded of the Loyola Marymount basketball teams of coach Paul Westhead of the late 1980's and early 1990's. Their best defense was a devastating fast paced offensive attack that saw them want to get a shot off in 7 seconds or less of each possession. Wapakoneta's best defense is their offense. It is a classic case of playing to strength and doing your best to disguise weakness. It's working well for them and they will continue to find success until teams adjust.
Tonight's match between Wapakoneta and Bluffton was as entertaining as any have seen recently even if, or perhaps because, it was so unconventional. Wore me out just watching the end to end action!
Oh, yeah, the final was Wapakoneta 6 Bluffton 5, but that wasn't the real story.
Sunday
Analyzing an individual soccer player in the context of team play. Depth.
It has occurred to me that depth is the least understood of the 3 elements of the game of soccer. When I think of depth in an attacking sense I consider the on-field positioning of forwards, midfielders and backs not only in the context of formation but also within their own lines. The position and spacing within a teams formation that defines a teams shape, if you will.
I think it perhaps best to begin with a concept of depth familiar to most - supporting players behind the ball carrier. The picture that comes to mind is that of the ball carrier have options for play both in the forward passing lanes and also in the passing lanes towards his own goal. This brings to light a very basic but often overlooked principle of play which states the man on the ball should play the way he faces.
I think it perhaps best to begin with a concept of depth familiar to most - supporting players behind the ball carrier. The picture that comes to mind is that of the ball carrier have options for play both in the forward passing lanes and also in the passing lanes towards his own goal. This brings to light a very basic but often overlooked principle of play which states the man on the ball should play the way he faces.
Monday
The False Nine
The False Nine is a center forward with a non-traditional role. The Nine position has long been defined by players who push high on the opponents backs looking to be played through for goal scoring opportunities. The advent of zonal defending has forced changes to the role and responsibilities of the Nine position. Today the False Nine typically plays a bit withdrawn, often back to goal and is tasked with diverting the opposing back lines attention from others making forward runs and distributing the ball to teammates This does not mean the False Nine is not a goal scorer, only that goal scoring opportunities for the position are generated differently than has been tradition. On my teams we refer to the Nine / False Nine as the Target Forward.
We expect our target forward to provide initial penetration by pushing opponents back toward their own goal, but instead of looking to be played through the primary reason is so the target forward can then check back to a ball played to his feet by a defender or midfielder. The traditional Nine would push opposing backs towards their own goal looking for the flighted dump and run service from backs or midfielders. The modern role for a center forward is to push the backs towards their own goal and then have them come back forward to defend against the False Nine receiving the ball at his feet.
As the ball is played to the feet of the False Nine and the opposing backs are stepping to meet that threat, wing forwards and mids, perhaps even a back are starting strong penetrating runs to be played through either directly by the False Nine or off a drop pass from the False Nine to a CM. The through ball, or dump and run, is still very much alive but its execution has been adapted to beat today's zonal defenses that have become far more common than the man-marking systems prevalent in days gone by.
I feel it important to note that a Target Forward does not present a stationary target. Rather the False Nine / Target Forward must be very active and have a high work rate. He must be in constant motion and vary his runs so as not to become predictable. In addition to "V" cuts that push defenders back before checking to the ball, bent runs back towards his midfield can also be employed. Sometimes the False Nine will drift to the weak side in order to check back to ball side. Other times he will move strong to ball side serving as much as a decoy as an actual target. Deception is very much a part of his game.
Once in possession of the ball his primary role is not to take on defenders to create goal scoring opportunities for himself but to continue engaging defenders to create opportunities to distribute the ball to teammates who then advance the ball. Think of it in this manner - the False Nine is a creative distributor in the middle third of the field, then in the final third he is on the receiving end of distributions for goal scoring opportunities from the player he has played through. Still a goal scorer but also a facilitator of the attack = The center forward / modern Nine / False Nine / Target Forward.
We expect our target forward to provide initial penetration by pushing opponents back toward their own goal, but instead of looking to be played through the primary reason is so the target forward can then check back to a ball played to his feet by a defender or midfielder. The traditional Nine would push opposing backs towards their own goal looking for the flighted dump and run service from backs or midfielders. The modern role for a center forward is to push the backs towards their own goal and then have them come back forward to defend against the False Nine receiving the ball at his feet.
As the ball is played to the feet of the False Nine and the opposing backs are stepping to meet that threat, wing forwards and mids, perhaps even a back are starting strong penetrating runs to be played through either directly by the False Nine or off a drop pass from the False Nine to a CM. The through ball, or dump and run, is still very much alive but its execution has been adapted to beat today's zonal defenses that have become far more common than the man-marking systems prevalent in days gone by.
I feel it important to note that a Target Forward does not present a stationary target. Rather the False Nine / Target Forward must be very active and have a high work rate. He must be in constant motion and vary his runs so as not to become predictable. In addition to "V" cuts that push defenders back before checking to the ball, bent runs back towards his midfield can also be employed. Sometimes the False Nine will drift to the weak side in order to check back to ball side. Other times he will move strong to ball side serving as much as a decoy as an actual target. Deception is very much a part of his game.
Once in possession of the ball his primary role is not to take on defenders to create goal scoring opportunities for himself but to continue engaging defenders to create opportunities to distribute the ball to teammates who then advance the ball. Think of it in this manner - the False Nine is a creative distributor in the middle third of the field, then in the final third he is on the receiving end of distributions for goal scoring opportunities from the player he has played through. Still a goal scorer but also a facilitator of the attack = The center forward / modern Nine / False Nine / Target Forward.
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