Another tryout season is fast upon us! There are clubs that are asking for a 10 month committment from high school aged players and have drawn their rosters from a select limited pool of players. But for most, the process is just getting underway as the current Spring season is winding down and the current seasonal year is concluding.
Yesterday we took a look at the tryout process in general. I presented it in a fiction and fact format that touched on some of the misconceptions often present in the process. Today we will narrow the focus to what parents and players should be aware of and present it in questions that should be asked form. To begin with parents need to know that soccer teams are part of a buyers market - that is, teams need players even moreso than players need teams to play on. This allows parents and players to choose the right club and team to fit their needs. It is important to note that Ohio High School Athletic Associations rules and regulations play into this dynamic as well as only 5 players from a given high school program may play together on the same club team before June 1st of each year.
Welcome to the web home of Conceive Believe Achieve Soccer. We specialize in conducting high school team camps. This website began as a means to promote our camps and keep campers informed of upcoming opportunities. There are now over 650 articles archived here. Use the search function in the right hand column below to find ones on topic for you. You may contact us at coachtjbrown@gmail.com or 567-204-6083 Thanks for visiting!
Showing posts with label formation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label formation. Show all posts
Saturday
Monday
What you see is what you get. Maybe you should see something else?
There are numerous sports quotes that urge players (and coaches) to look at things from different perspectives. If all you ever do is all you've ever done, all you'll ever have is what you've always had. This is one example that implores change to be made. In our camps we seek to retrain the brain, which is another way to say changes must be instituted before progress can be made. Asking players to step outside their established comfort zones is yet another means to motivate them to change.
As coaches we "borrow" from one another all the time. When one coach is successful his methodology and systems of play will be examined and reversed engineered by his peers. Perhaps the most recognized example today is the spread of zonal defenses. The strictly man-marking system is nearly extinct although I suspect it will rise again like the mythical phoenix in retro-ness some day. A by-product of zonal defense is the incorporation of the outside backs into the attack. These players are filling non-traditional roles. Because of this the players manning these positions have been granted freedom in exploring how to execute their duties and responsibilities. In a sense the outside backs have been allowed to write their own job descriptions. As a result we are beginning to see creative and innovative play emerge.
I often refer to "our" attacking system that we run from our 1-4-2-3-1 or 1-4-1-4-1 formations. I lay claim to it, but in the last 3-4 years I have seen it emerging independently at various ages and levels of play. It is a natural extension of the zonal defensive systems in prevalent use today. That the Columbus Crew SC are successfully running "our" system in MLS validates what I have been coaching these past several years.
Many of the coaches we conduct camp for want us to demonstrate how we have taught our players to make creative / deceptive runs that stress defenses. They want to know our patterns for making runs and are shocked that I spend less than one training session per season working on specific patterns.
I have written often of how I allow the players to conduct our half time discussions. One of things they cover is what the opposing defense is giving us and more specifically which opposing player(s) is (are) the weak links we can attack. We have learned to also identify how we wish to set up those players to be attacked. How do we move players and the ball to isolate the defender(s) we wish to attack in the match ups we prefer to have?
Patterns in soccer are, in my opinion, symptomatic of the problems that plague American soccer. American sports are largely coach driven sports and patterns in soccer are an extension of this. In short, patterns are restrictive. Patterns take the onus for decision making away from individual players. The coach teaches the pattern and its variations and expects the players to adhere to these. Even the decision of whether to follow the patterns or not is taken away from the players for if they do not, they will find themselves on the bench in favor of someone who will. Any deviation from the scripted established pattern and its variations is blasphemy regardless of if it is successful or not.
So it is when we come to conduct a camp on off-the-ball movement that we need to retrain the soccer brains of the players ... and coach. A few years ago I had a coach ask me how to get his team away from playing direct soccer. We watched some game film of his team and one of the first thing we noticed was nearly all off-the-ball movement was towards goal and at the same pace the ball was traveling. What else could his team do, but play direct? So, if you want your team to have a balanced, dynamic and varied attack the off-the-ball player movement is key. Retraining the brain to allow for multi-decison, multi-tasking play is the solution. The answer for how to go about doing this? Well, you'll have to sign up for one of our camps for that! ;) LOL.
As coaches we "borrow" from one another all the time. When one coach is successful his methodology and systems of play will be examined and reversed engineered by his peers. Perhaps the most recognized example today is the spread of zonal defenses. The strictly man-marking system is nearly extinct although I suspect it will rise again like the mythical phoenix in retro-ness some day. A by-product of zonal defense is the incorporation of the outside backs into the attack. These players are filling non-traditional roles. Because of this the players manning these positions have been granted freedom in exploring how to execute their duties and responsibilities. In a sense the outside backs have been allowed to write their own job descriptions. As a result we are beginning to see creative and innovative play emerge.
I often refer to "our" attacking system that we run from our 1-4-2-3-1 or 1-4-1-4-1 formations. I lay claim to it, but in the last 3-4 years I have seen it emerging independently at various ages and levels of play. It is a natural extension of the zonal defensive systems in prevalent use today. That the Columbus Crew SC are successfully running "our" system in MLS validates what I have been coaching these past several years.
Many of the coaches we conduct camp for want us to demonstrate how we have taught our players to make creative / deceptive runs that stress defenses. They want to know our patterns for making runs and are shocked that I spend less than one training session per season working on specific patterns.
I have written often of how I allow the players to conduct our half time discussions. One of things they cover is what the opposing defense is giving us and more specifically which opposing player(s) is (are) the weak links we can attack. We have learned to also identify how we wish to set up those players to be attacked. How do we move players and the ball to isolate the defender(s) we wish to attack in the match ups we prefer to have?
Patterns in soccer are, in my opinion, symptomatic of the problems that plague American soccer. American sports are largely coach driven sports and patterns in soccer are an extension of this. In short, patterns are restrictive. Patterns take the onus for decision making away from individual players. The coach teaches the pattern and its variations and expects the players to adhere to these. Even the decision of whether to follow the patterns or not is taken away from the players for if they do not, they will find themselves on the bench in favor of someone who will. Any deviation from the scripted established pattern and its variations is blasphemy regardless of if it is successful or not.
So it is when we come to conduct a camp on off-the-ball movement that we need to retrain the soccer brains of the players ... and coach. A few years ago I had a coach ask me how to get his team away from playing direct soccer. We watched some game film of his team and one of the first thing we noticed was nearly all off-the-ball movement was towards goal and at the same pace the ball was traveling. What else could his team do, but play direct? So, if you want your team to have a balanced, dynamic and varied attack the off-the-ball player movement is key. Retraining the brain to allow for multi-decison, multi-tasking play is the solution. The answer for how to go about doing this? Well, you'll have to sign up for one of our camps for that! ;) LOL.
Sunday
Versatility and Unpredictability.
Our style of play is entrenched around responsibility. We want you to experience and enjoy freedom in your play. In order to achieve this, an understanding must be developed that with freedom comes incredible responsibility. You simply cannot have one without accepting the other.
I believe in complete interchangeability throughout our lineup. A player may begin at right back and through the course of play move to a midfield position, a forward position or a different spot in the back line. It takes time to develop this type of flexibility, but it is time well spent in my opinion.
Of course, most players have a preference for playing a certain position, but with this group almost everyone has bought into playing a variety of positions. I have made season long plans for their learning and development. With some we are simply using "their" position as a starting point and working with them on "branching out" to surrounding positions.
It is this versatility that makes our team very difficult to mark in a man marking system. When we are fluid with our movements we can destroy an opponents shape with our interchangeability. Our player movement does not significantly impact our own shape as long as we communicate and / or are observant of the game about us. We must be game watchers. It is only when we are ball watchers that our player movement or lack thereof can lead us into trouble.
This versatility also serves us well against zonal defending as it keeps opposing backs from getting comfortable defending against certain and specific forwards. They cannot just keep an eye on one or two primary threats because the personnel is constantly changing as dictated by the run of play. As each player has a different style, different strengths and weaknesses it is keeps us unpredictable and defenders guessing.
Confusing or manipulating a defense is a king consideration in opening seams to attack through. The idea behind this is actually quite simple - Movement of the ball is predicated on player movement off the ball. With nearly unrestricted player movement, ball movement becomes very dynamic... and unpredictable. A second key consideration is the ability of our players to fill out our defensive shape without the need to scramble back into "their" position. We fill the position we are closest to and the versatility we have established allows each player to know the role of the position in our defensive system.
I am likely making us sound a lot better than we actually are. We are not consistent enough in our movement for my liking . A couple of our players "abuse" the freedom of movement we allow them by roving mindlessly at times instead of moving purposefully . They lose sight of positional responsibility in equating freedom of movement with positionless soccer. We do not play positionless soccer, we just are not overly concerned with which player mans a specific position through the run of play. At dead ball situations we sort positions out and begin again.
We do grant our players a LOT of freedom, but in return demand they accept a LOT of responsibility.
I believe in complete interchangeability throughout our lineup. A player may begin at right back and through the course of play move to a midfield position, a forward position or a different spot in the back line. It takes time to develop this type of flexibility, but it is time well spent in my opinion.
Of course, most players have a preference for playing a certain position, but with this group almost everyone has bought into playing a variety of positions. I have made season long plans for their learning and development. With some we are simply using "their" position as a starting point and working with them on "branching out" to surrounding positions.
It is this versatility that makes our team very difficult to mark in a man marking system. When we are fluid with our movements we can destroy an opponents shape with our interchangeability. Our player movement does not significantly impact our own shape as long as we communicate and / or are observant of the game about us. We must be game watchers. It is only when we are ball watchers that our player movement or lack thereof can lead us into trouble.
This versatility also serves us well against zonal defending as it keeps opposing backs from getting comfortable defending against certain and specific forwards. They cannot just keep an eye on one or two primary threats because the personnel is constantly changing as dictated by the run of play. As each player has a different style, different strengths and weaknesses it is keeps us unpredictable and defenders guessing.
Confusing or manipulating a defense is a king consideration in opening seams to attack through. The idea behind this is actually quite simple - Movement of the ball is predicated on player movement off the ball. With nearly unrestricted player movement, ball movement becomes very dynamic... and unpredictable. A second key consideration is the ability of our players to fill out our defensive shape without the need to scramble back into "their" position. We fill the position we are closest to and the versatility we have established allows each player to know the role of the position in our defensive system.
I am likely making us sound a lot better than we actually are. We are not consistent enough in our movement for my liking . A couple of our players "abuse" the freedom of movement we allow them by roving mindlessly at times instead of moving purposefully . They lose sight of positional responsibility in equating freedom of movement with positionless soccer. We do not play positionless soccer, we just are not overly concerned with which player mans a specific position through the run of play. At dead ball situations we sort positions out and begin again.
We do grant our players a LOT of freedom, but in return demand they accept a LOT of responsibility.
Labels:
Accountability,
attacking play,
CBA Soccer,
change,
communication,
Conceive Believe Achieve Soccer,
defenders,
formation,
manipulating defense,
responsibility,
roles,
Shape,
support,
system of play,
The Process
Saturday
Numerical Formations / Shape / Support
I have been involved in a rather lively debate about the 1-4-3-3 formation and its many variations. To be honest, I instigated the debate by proclaiming the 1-4-3-3, the 1-4-2-3-1, the 1-4-1-4, and the 4-5-1 are all the same basic formation.
The 4-3-3 most often employs a triangle midfield with 1 defensive mid and two attacking mids or the inverse with 2 defensive mids and a lone attacking mid. There is then a center forward and two wings.
The same is true in the 4-2-3-1 and the 4-1-4-1 and the 4-5-1. The differences in these formations is mainly in how the wingers are deployed.
Our spring team ran all of the above. Not always intentionally, lol. We played to the strength of our players.
In my opinion, many people get too caught up in the numerical designations of a formation.
As in the above example a 1-4-4-2 can easily morph into a 1-3-4-3, a 1-4-1-4 or even a 1-2-4-4 among other variations.
So, what's the big deal about numerical designations of formations?
The numerical designation of a teams formation defines its defending shape. All the other variations can define a teams attacking shape. When defending a team needs to be disciplined. When attacking a team needs to be creative. Two entirely different philosophies that require two very different attitudes about formations.
I recently watched a U17 youth match that saw both teams maintain their formational shape whether defending or attacking. Two "blocks" of players "moving" up and down the pitch in sync with one another. Most of the match was played in the middle third of the field. It was a boringly ugly game of ping pong on grass with neither team threatening goal, let alone actually scoring. From the coach's sideline calls of "keep your shape" and "hold your positions" could be heard. It was not unlike 1770's formational battles or WW I trench warfare.
These two teams obviously confused the term shape with the term support. Support is a necessity for both defending and attacking. Support on defense is defined by discipline whereas support in the attack is defined by creative based mobility. They are entirely different from one another as is a teams shape when defending or attacking.
The 4-3-3 most often employs a triangle midfield with 1 defensive mid and two attacking mids or the inverse with 2 defensive mids and a lone attacking mid. There is then a center forward and two wings.
The same is true in the 4-2-3-1 and the 4-1-4-1 and the 4-5-1. The differences in these formations is mainly in how the wingers are deployed.
Our spring team ran all of the above. Not always intentionally, lol. We played to the strength of our players.
In my opinion, many people get too caught up in the numerical designations of a formation.
As in the above example a 1-4-4-2 can easily morph into a 1-3-4-3, a 1-4-1-4 or even a 1-2-4-4 among other variations.
So, what's the big deal about numerical designations of formations?
The numerical designation of a teams formation defines its defending shape. All the other variations can define a teams attacking shape. When defending a team needs to be disciplined. When attacking a team needs to be creative. Two entirely different philosophies that require two very different attitudes about formations.
I recently watched a U17 youth match that saw both teams maintain their formational shape whether defending or attacking. Two "blocks" of players "moving" up and down the pitch in sync with one another. Most of the match was played in the middle third of the field. It was a boringly ugly game of ping pong on grass with neither team threatening goal, let alone actually scoring. From the coach's sideline calls of "keep your shape" and "hold your positions" could be heard. It was not unlike 1770's formational battles or WW I trench warfare.
These two teams obviously confused the term shape with the term support. Support is a necessity for both defending and attacking. Support on defense is defined by discipline whereas support in the attack is defined by creative based mobility. They are entirely different from one another as is a teams shape when defending or attacking.
Friday
Team Shape
I took on more than I anticipated with this topic. I could have, and perhaps should have, simplified my approach, but shape is not as simple as numerical formation and differs when attacking form defending and even in transition. I suspect I will update this article after leaving it sit for a day or to.
*********************************************************************************
I was listening to a young parent / coach sharing her frustration with another parent about how her team would not stay spread out. "They get all bunched up!" I could not stop myself from asking how old the team was. "First and second graders" came the reply. I said, "Ahh..." waggled my forefinger upwards in the air and walked off. Really, what was there to say?
Spatial Awareness is a key consideration both in defining and maintaining team shape. U 6 players are going to struggle with this concept. All the shouted instructions to "stay in your position" that rise up from both the team and parent sidelines are going to have little impact on what actually happens on the pitch at this age. And here's a secret... they almost certainly do more long term harm than they do short term good.
In today's writing we are going to take a look at developing, maintaining and utilizing team shape. While you are reading this article I would like you to keep in mind how the game is played at U6. How it is seen through the eyes of a 6 year old child even as my intended audience for this writing is coaches working with teenagers.
Spatial Awareness
Roles
Mobility
Communication
Technical skill
Pace of Play
Tactical Awareness
Game Situation
There is a tried and true saying in soccer that Space = Time.
Defending: At five feet they look at their feet. This is a simple coaching phrase meaning when a defender comes within five feet of the ball carrier the attackers head will go to the ball at his feet. Five feet is a rule of thumb. Depending on the skill of the ball carrier this distance might be smaller or larger. The point is that when the ball carrier's eyes go to the ball, his range of vision is significantly smaller.
Attacking: If the ball carrier has space / time to play in, his teammates should open the field up even more for him. If the ball carrier is under pressure, if his eyes must go to his feet, then his teammates must come to him. They must help their ball carrier by getting in his diminished vision and providing BIG passing angles for him.
Every position / player has a role to fill. When duplication of one role occurs it means another role goes unfilled. Also, when a role in not filled it stresses the rest of the team.
Defending: A back who is caught too far up the field can cause the back line to collapse as the remaining backs must cover for him. That one back out of position creates a domino effect. A defender charged with slowing the opponents attack who dives in our stabs in an unsuccessful attempt to tackle the ball forces stresses the back line. The target player who does not work to cut the field in half and deny the change of fields through the opponents backs stresses his teammates as they attempt to regain and maintain defensive shape behind him.
In short, it is a defenses role to disrupt the rhythm and shape of an opponents attack but when defenders stray from their positional roles it is the defensive shape that suffers and the defending rhythm that is destroyed.
Attacking: Wing midfielders who stray inside and duplicate center midfielders strain the teams ability to find and maintain attacking rhythm. They unnecessarily stress their own attack by shrinking the space their team has to play in. When wing defenders are supposed to read the outside midfielders runs as cues for their own movement, but the outside midfielders are not present in their roles it throws the attack completely out of sync.
Attacking soccer is all about rhythm and timing. When there occurs duplication of roles (too many attackers in a small area of the field) and other roles are left unfilled it's a bit like stepping on your dancing partners toes. It throws the rhythm of the attacking dance all out of kilter and forces the attack to rely disproportionately on LUCK rather than on collective coordinated effort.
Ball Movement is Predicated on Player Movement.
Defending: Defenders like predictability. So much so, one of the key coaching phrases in coaching defending calls to the pressure defender to take "force right (or left)" thusly making the ball carrier more predictable in his play. Teams that attack in straight lines or a single channel are very predictable. Such direct play is far more easily defended. The defense easily retains its shape and plays from their comfort zone.
Attacking: Teams that use the philosophy of "safe pass" to secure possession and mix target play with repeated switches of the field and occasional through balls is very difficult to defend as they force the defense to move both forward and backwards as well as side to side. Purposeful player movement with advantageous ball movement can stress a defense to the point of creating seams through which to attack.
Clear concise effective Communication
Defending: From the goalkeeper organizing the defense to cover or support defenders coordinating with the pressure defender effective communication is essential for quality defending. I would add efficient communication to the list of qualities as well. There is nothing worse than a goalkeeper that constantly talks without passing quality information. We do not need a cheerleader in the goalkeeper role and we need the rest of the team to appreciate that when the goalkeeper does speak, he must be listened to.
Attacking: When a player receives the ball his eyes will be down to the ball. Therefore his field of vision will be approximately 10 yards square. His teammates must be his eyes for him and communicate information that will aid in his decision-making. This can come in the form of "man on!" or calling for a specific type of pass to be made among other things. Because of the urgency associated with being under pressure from a defender any communication must be
both clear and concise.
Techniques determine the plays and the plays determine the game.
Defending: Deny, Delay, Destroy. Understanding the cues for when to attempt a tackle is critical. Utilizing bounce steps to take away momentum. Doubling a ball carrier when he faces his own goal. Maintaining pressure / cover (and balance). Defending is about disciplined application of technique.
Attacking: Proper execution of proper technique is a primary consideration when attacking. Preparing to play by positioning the body properly to most effectively employ the proper technique takes a lot of forethought. Being in the passers vision before he even has possession of the ball is a technique that can greatly enhance the pace of play.
Pace of play is all about brain power.
Defending: Having a plan for where on the pitch you wish to defend is a key consideration. Where will you set your line of confrontation? Will you bunker in or will you try to pressure high on the pitch? Will you press and or will you play delaying defense. How you choose to defend can impact the pace of play in the game. How you seek to disrupt the opponents attacking rhythm can impact the pace of play.
Attacking: Being able to control pace of play is the key to successful attacking. Perhaps you choose to sit back in your half of the field to defend, then once the ball is won counter attack with pace. Win the ball, safe pass to secure possession and then GO! Or if you choose to build from the back you might play a more deliberate style before changing the tempo of the attack. Regardless, pace of play is a brain power consideration far more than it is a physical speed of consideration. Pace of play can be planned for and executed within a well designed system of play.
Tactical awareness is all about being a game watcher instead of being a ball watcher.
Defending: While the pressure defender must have eyes on the ball and the support or cover defenders have a primary consideration of providing back up to the pressure defender, all off-the-ball defenders should be in and maintain back to goal "ball / you / man positioning. When in this positioning defenders should be able to see both the ball and either the opponent they are charged with marking or any opponent that enters the zone or channel he is responsible for.
Attacking: A game watcher will see space that can be utilized. He will also be able to recognize which defender to attack with off-the-ball movement that he might move that defender to create space for teammates to take advantage of. Tactical awareness on the attacking is all about manipulating the defense and the recognition of, creation of and utilization of space in the most efficient and effective manner possible.
How we choose to use team shape to impact the game through any of the above referenced components is determined by the game situation.
Defending: Playing a delaying defense to slow the pace of play may be an advantageous proposition when your team is over matched or if they are playing with a lead. Playing pressing style and pressuring high on the pitch might be the choice when needing a goal or if you believe you can stress an opponent from their normal comfort zone. Depending on the game situation you may choose to defend with more ... or less ... personnel.
Transitioning from Attacking to Defending: Many teams today seek to press in an attempt to regain possession of the ball. This basically entails pressuring the ball and having two support or cover players backing up the pressure defender. That is a team shape within the teams defending shape. The remaining defenders will be sprinting to regain the teams defensive shape or formational look behind the press.
Attacking: Again, depending on the game situation you may withdraw attackers from the attack or throw more players into the attack depending on whether your team is in need of a goal or not. I like to attack with as many players as possible and I like them to enter the attack from as diverse positioning as possible. Even if we withdraw a forward into the defense I will still seek to push as many into the attack as possible.
Transitioning for defending to attracting: When the ball is successfully won the winner of the ball may find himself under pressure via a press. The philosophy of safe pass is a team shape that helps secure possession of the ball and can be used to set the pace for the attack or pace of play. This shape will morph based on what the receiver of the safe pass sees but will always have elements of depth, width, penetration and mobility.
In conclusion, soccer is a game of opposites. While on the attack teams want to establish a rhythm and mix in change of direction with change of pace. The attacking shape should be fluidly purposeful with lots of interchanging amongst players. It stands to reason then that defenses seek to disrupt the attacks rhythm. To do so, a defense must stay organized with strong support of the pressure defender. The defensive shape, while not exactly rigid, must remain true to its numerical formation to operate at peak efficiency. Team shape is not a constant or rigidly defined thing. Whether attacking or defending team shape is predicated on support around the ball. The definition of support around the ball changes when attacking from when defending. Therefore, it will also look different in the transitioning phases.
*********************************************************************************
I was listening to a young parent / coach sharing her frustration with another parent about how her team would not stay spread out. "They get all bunched up!" I could not stop myself from asking how old the team was. "First and second graders" came the reply. I said, "Ahh..." waggled my forefinger upwards in the air and walked off. Really, what was there to say?
Spatial Awareness is a key consideration both in defining and maintaining team shape. U 6 players are going to struggle with this concept. All the shouted instructions to "stay in your position" that rise up from both the team and parent sidelines are going to have little impact on what actually happens on the pitch at this age. And here's a secret... they almost certainly do more long term harm than they do short term good.
In today's writing we are going to take a look at developing, maintaining and utilizing team shape. While you are reading this article I would like you to keep in mind how the game is played at U6. How it is seen through the eyes of a 6 year old child even as my intended audience for this writing is coaches working with teenagers.
TEAM SHAPE
To begin with let us recognize that a team's shape will be predicated on the four phases of play in a game of soccer. The attacking phase and transitioning from attack to defending. The defending phase and transitioning from defending to attacking. A teams defensive shape will be different in each phase or at least it should be.
Our team from this last spring had a defensive shape of 4-2-3-1 and an attacking shape that was extremely fluid and hard to numerically define. This was intentional and it worked very well for us.
Let's begin by looking at some of the components necessary to define and analyze team shape.
Spatial Awareness
Roles
Mobility
Communication
Technical skill
Pace of Play
Tactical Awareness
Game Situation
There is a tried and true saying in soccer that Space = Time.
Defending: At five feet they look at their feet. This is a simple coaching phrase meaning when a defender comes within five feet of the ball carrier the attackers head will go to the ball at his feet. Five feet is a rule of thumb. Depending on the skill of the ball carrier this distance might be smaller or larger. The point is that when the ball carrier's eyes go to the ball, his range of vision is significantly smaller.
Attacking: If the ball carrier has space / time to play in, his teammates should open the field up even more for him. If the ball carrier is under pressure, if his eyes must go to his feet, then his teammates must come to him. They must help their ball carrier by getting in his diminished vision and providing BIG passing angles for him.
Every position / player has a role to fill. When duplication of one role occurs it means another role goes unfilled. Also, when a role in not filled it stresses the rest of the team.
Defending: A back who is caught too far up the field can cause the back line to collapse as the remaining backs must cover for him. That one back out of position creates a domino effect. A defender charged with slowing the opponents attack who dives in our stabs in an unsuccessful attempt to tackle the ball forces stresses the back line. The target player who does not work to cut the field in half and deny the change of fields through the opponents backs stresses his teammates as they attempt to regain and maintain defensive shape behind him.
In short, it is a defenses role to disrupt the rhythm and shape of an opponents attack but when defenders stray from their positional roles it is the defensive shape that suffers and the defending rhythm that is destroyed.
Attacking: Wing midfielders who stray inside and duplicate center midfielders strain the teams ability to find and maintain attacking rhythm. They unnecessarily stress their own attack by shrinking the space their team has to play in. When wing defenders are supposed to read the outside midfielders runs as cues for their own movement, but the outside midfielders are not present in their roles it throws the attack completely out of sync.
Attacking soccer is all about rhythm and timing. When there occurs duplication of roles (too many attackers in a small area of the field) and other roles are left unfilled it's a bit like stepping on your dancing partners toes. It throws the rhythm of the attacking dance all out of kilter and forces the attack to rely disproportionately on LUCK rather than on collective coordinated effort.
Ball Movement is Predicated on Player Movement.
Defending: Defenders like predictability. So much so, one of the key coaching phrases in coaching defending calls to the pressure defender to take "force right (or left)" thusly making the ball carrier more predictable in his play. Teams that attack in straight lines or a single channel are very predictable. Such direct play is far more easily defended. The defense easily retains its shape and plays from their comfort zone.
Attacking: Teams that use the philosophy of "safe pass" to secure possession and mix target play with repeated switches of the field and occasional through balls is very difficult to defend as they force the defense to move both forward and backwards as well as side to side. Purposeful player movement with advantageous ball movement can stress a defense to the point of creating seams through which to attack.
Clear concise effective Communication
Defending: From the goalkeeper organizing the defense to cover or support defenders coordinating with the pressure defender effective communication is essential for quality defending. I would add efficient communication to the list of qualities as well. There is nothing worse than a goalkeeper that constantly talks without passing quality information. We do not need a cheerleader in the goalkeeper role and we need the rest of the team to appreciate that when the goalkeeper does speak, he must be listened to.
Attacking: When a player receives the ball his eyes will be down to the ball. Therefore his field of vision will be approximately 10 yards square. His teammates must be his eyes for him and communicate information that will aid in his decision-making. This can come in the form of "man on!" or calling for a specific type of pass to be made among other things. Because of the urgency associated with being under pressure from a defender any communication must be
both clear and concise.
Techniques determine the plays and the plays determine the game.
Defending: Deny, Delay, Destroy. Understanding the cues for when to attempt a tackle is critical. Utilizing bounce steps to take away momentum. Doubling a ball carrier when he faces his own goal. Maintaining pressure / cover (and balance). Defending is about disciplined application of technique.
Attacking: Proper execution of proper technique is a primary consideration when attacking. Preparing to play by positioning the body properly to most effectively employ the proper technique takes a lot of forethought. Being in the passers vision before he even has possession of the ball is a technique that can greatly enhance the pace of play.
Pace of play is all about brain power.
Defending: Having a plan for where on the pitch you wish to defend is a key consideration. Where will you set your line of confrontation? Will you bunker in or will you try to pressure high on the pitch? Will you press and or will you play delaying defense. How you choose to defend can impact the pace of play in the game. How you seek to disrupt the opponents attacking rhythm can impact the pace of play.
Attacking: Being able to control pace of play is the key to successful attacking. Perhaps you choose to sit back in your half of the field to defend, then once the ball is won counter attack with pace. Win the ball, safe pass to secure possession and then GO! Or if you choose to build from the back you might play a more deliberate style before changing the tempo of the attack. Regardless, pace of play is a brain power consideration far more than it is a physical speed of consideration. Pace of play can be planned for and executed within a well designed system of play.
Tactical awareness is all about being a game watcher instead of being a ball watcher.
Defending: While the pressure defender must have eyes on the ball and the support or cover defenders have a primary consideration of providing back up to the pressure defender, all off-the-ball defenders should be in and maintain back to goal "ball / you / man positioning. When in this positioning defenders should be able to see both the ball and either the opponent they are charged with marking or any opponent that enters the zone or channel he is responsible for.
Attacking: A game watcher will see space that can be utilized. He will also be able to recognize which defender to attack with off-the-ball movement that he might move that defender to create space for teammates to take advantage of. Tactical awareness on the attacking is all about manipulating the defense and the recognition of, creation of and utilization of space in the most efficient and effective manner possible.
How we choose to use team shape to impact the game through any of the above referenced components is determined by the game situation.
Defending: Playing a delaying defense to slow the pace of play may be an advantageous proposition when your team is over matched or if they are playing with a lead. Playing pressing style and pressuring high on the pitch might be the choice when needing a goal or if you believe you can stress an opponent from their normal comfort zone. Depending on the game situation you may choose to defend with more ... or less ... personnel.
Transitioning from Attacking to Defending: Many teams today seek to press in an attempt to regain possession of the ball. This basically entails pressuring the ball and having two support or cover players backing up the pressure defender. That is a team shape within the teams defending shape. The remaining defenders will be sprinting to regain the teams defensive shape or formational look behind the press.
Attacking: Again, depending on the game situation you may withdraw attackers from the attack or throw more players into the attack depending on whether your team is in need of a goal or not. I like to attack with as many players as possible and I like them to enter the attack from as diverse positioning as possible. Even if we withdraw a forward into the defense I will still seek to push as many into the attack as possible.
Transitioning for defending to attracting: When the ball is successfully won the winner of the ball may find himself under pressure via a press. The philosophy of safe pass is a team shape that helps secure possession of the ball and can be used to set the pace for the attack or pace of play. This shape will morph based on what the receiver of the safe pass sees but will always have elements of depth, width, penetration and mobility.
In conclusion, soccer is a game of opposites. While on the attack teams want to establish a rhythm and mix in change of direction with change of pace. The attacking shape should be fluidly purposeful with lots of interchanging amongst players. It stands to reason then that defenses seek to disrupt the attacks rhythm. To do so, a defense must stay organized with strong support of the pressure defender. The defensive shape, while not exactly rigid, must remain true to its numerical formation to operate at peak efficiency. Team shape is not a constant or rigidly defined thing. Whether attacking or defending team shape is predicated on support around the ball. The definition of support around the ball changes when attacking from when defending. Therefore, it will also look different in the transitioning phases.
Tuesday
Corner, Corner, Post
EDIT: I am constantly amazed how articles on this site can suddenly become popular once again months after their original publication. Such is the case with this article. Of a sudden it has received a number of hits so I am "re-publishing" it to the front page.
*********************************************************************************
Soccer coaches the world over like to spread the field when in possession of the ball. Wing or flank players are encouraged to "stay wide" in an effort to draw defenders away from the face of goal. This is all good and well as it addresses one of the three elements necessary to play effective soccer - Penetration, Width and Depth. This is what some refer to as the triangle or diamond shapes in soccer.
Over the years I have become accustomed to using two different coaching phrases when teaching players to maintain width; "Heels to the touch line" and "Corner, Corner, Post.
"Heels to the touch line" applies to the middle "third" of the field give or take a few yards toward either end.
"Corner, Corner, Post" is the path a weak side wing player takes toward goal.
*********************************************************************************
Soccer coaches the world over like to spread the field when in possession of the ball. Wing or flank players are encouraged to "stay wide" in an effort to draw defenders away from the face of goal. This is all good and well as it addresses one of the three elements necessary to play effective soccer - Penetration, Width and Depth. This is what some refer to as the triangle or diamond shapes in soccer.
Over the years I have become accustomed to using two different coaching phrases when teaching players to maintain width; "Heels to the touch line" and "Corner, Corner, Post.
"Heels to the touch line" applies to the middle "third" of the field give or take a few yards toward either end.
"Corner, Corner, Post" is the path a weak side wing player takes toward goal.
Thursday
When your team forces you to change.
We were recently asked a great question by one of our readers and friendly rivals; "How did you successfully coach two teams last spring with two completely different formations and systems of play?" The questioner was referring to the fact we fielded two U19 nebs teams last spring. The "A" team played a 4-2-3-1 while the "B" team played from a 4-4-2 formation.
The phrase "system of play" is rather a generic one. It is commonly used to define the number of forwards used in a formation. The positional responsibilities of forwards can be different dependent on whether one, two or three forwards are deployed. And there is a trickle down effect to the midfielders, back line and even the goalkeeper. System of play can also apply to the teams general attacking philosophy. Does the team wish to counter attack? Do they seek to play directly? Will the team be more of a build & probe team?
With the personnel available on our "A" team the 4-2-3-1 was an easy choice. Lot's of good center midfielders, speed galore on the wings and a couple of strong, fast, physical forwards who could alternate up top. To be perfectly honest we started the "B" team playing in the same 4-2-3-1 formation for sake of continuity within the program and between the two teams. It quickly became apparent the "B" team lacked the type of forward to effectively run the 4-2-3-1 so I made the decision to switch them to a 4-4-2 where two forwards share the workload and play off one another. However, this did not significantly change our system of play in the broader and general sense of how we wanted to attack opponents.
The single forward in our 4-2-3-1 was responsible for both the initial penetration of a defense and also for being a target player. As such he drew attention from the opponents back line wherever he was positioned in the middle third of the field - usually pushed forward on ball side. One of the three midfielders served as his direct support when he was played as a target. The two forwards employed in the 4-4-2 served the same purpose as they were deployed in a "stack" with one pushed against the opponents backs as a target and the other slightly withdrawn to be in support position of the target. If not caught up in the numerical alignment of formations the actual system of play in the broader sense was basically the same.
The real difference between the 4-2-3-1 and the 4-4-2 was found in how we covered defensive width in the defending third. In the former we played as a 5-4-1 defensively while in the latter it often looked more like a 5-3-1-1. Again, subtle differences with the defensive system of playing remaining largely the same.
I think it is important to note the phrase "system of play" as used by the questioner isolated the transitioning phase from defending to attack. That is, with both teams, as we entered the attacking third of the field we attempted to do so with numbers up and little regard to formational alignment. We sought to create and utilize space by manipulating the defense with player movement and ball movement. The only variable of priority concern was whether the opponent man marked or played a zonal defense.
So, my answer to the question is we played the same system from both formations.
To further illustrate this point, the "A" team was capable of playing multiple formations while our system of play never changed. 4-2-3-1 was our preferred choice, but at times we looked to be in a 5-4-1 or a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3 or even 2-3-2-3. The point being, we look at a formation as our defensive set and our system of play as our attacking philosophy which after the initial transition phase from defending to attack is not predicated on a formational alignment so much as it is on space, support and pace.
The phrase "system of play" is rather a generic one. It is commonly used to define the number of forwards used in a formation. The positional responsibilities of forwards can be different dependent on whether one, two or three forwards are deployed. And there is a trickle down effect to the midfielders, back line and even the goalkeeper. System of play can also apply to the teams general attacking philosophy. Does the team wish to counter attack? Do they seek to play directly? Will the team be more of a build & probe team?
With the personnel available on our "A" team the 4-2-3-1 was an easy choice. Lot's of good center midfielders, speed galore on the wings and a couple of strong, fast, physical forwards who could alternate up top. To be perfectly honest we started the "B" team playing in the same 4-2-3-1 formation for sake of continuity within the program and between the two teams. It quickly became apparent the "B" team lacked the type of forward to effectively run the 4-2-3-1 so I made the decision to switch them to a 4-4-2 where two forwards share the workload and play off one another. However, this did not significantly change our system of play in the broader and general sense of how we wanted to attack opponents.
The single forward in our 4-2-3-1 was responsible for both the initial penetration of a defense and also for being a target player. As such he drew attention from the opponents back line wherever he was positioned in the middle third of the field - usually pushed forward on ball side. One of the three midfielders served as his direct support when he was played as a target. The two forwards employed in the 4-4-2 served the same purpose as they were deployed in a "stack" with one pushed against the opponents backs as a target and the other slightly withdrawn to be in support position of the target. If not caught up in the numerical alignment of formations the actual system of play in the broader sense was basically the same.
The real difference between the 4-2-3-1 and the 4-4-2 was found in how we covered defensive width in the defending third. In the former we played as a 5-4-1 defensively while in the latter it often looked more like a 5-3-1-1. Again, subtle differences with the defensive system of playing remaining largely the same.
I think it is important to note the phrase "system of play" as used by the questioner isolated the transitioning phase from defending to attack. That is, with both teams, as we entered the attacking third of the field we attempted to do so with numbers up and little regard to formational alignment. We sought to create and utilize space by manipulating the defense with player movement and ball movement. The only variable of priority concern was whether the opponent man marked or played a zonal defense.
So, my answer to the question is we played the same system from both formations.
To further illustrate this point, the "A" team was capable of playing multiple formations while our system of play never changed. 4-2-3-1 was our preferred choice, but at times we looked to be in a 5-4-1 or a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3 or even 2-3-2-3. The point being, we look at a formation as our defensive set and our system of play as our attacking philosophy which after the initial transition phase from defending to attack is not predicated on a formational alignment so much as it is on space, support and pace.
Monday
Keep Your Shape vs. Crossing Lines
"Keep your shape" or utterances to that effect are common calls from coaches in youth soccer competitions. Most of the time, especially at younger ages, this implies staying in the teams formational shape; 1-4-3-3 or 1-4-4-2 as examples. In the older age groups the word shape becomes more synonymous with the word support. Support (and balance) takes priority over formational shape as the latter becomes a bit more fluid.
Typically a formation will have three lines; backs, midfielders, forwards. Dependent on how each line is employed there might be what we shall call "sub-lines" within each line. For instance, in a 4-3-3 the midfield might be deployed in a triangle as 2 holding midfielders with an attacking midfielder in front of them. The triangle shape might shift to one holding midfielder and two attacking midfielders but the players manning these positions stay with their "line."
The same is true of the back line where two center backs are often found flanked by two advanced wing backs. In this case, the two advanced wing backs might appear to form a line with the holding midfielder(s), but their roles and responsibilities are still associated with the back line. Similarly if two or more forwards are deployed one might be pushed forward as a target while another is slightly withdrawn.
"Stay in your position" is another call often heard at youth soccer contests. It can mean the same thing as "keep your shape." Often times when I watch youth soccer matches I see two teams in rigid formation moving up and down the pitch in synchronization. A picture of armies of the 1700's facing one another in rank and file across a battlefield comes to mind.
Now, I think shape or more specifically support is a critical element to team defending. The system employed behind the support strives to make an attack(er) predictable and therefore more easily defended. This is sound soccer at any age or competition level.
If predictability of attack is a desired result of properly supported defending, then unpredictability is paramount to effective attacking. This is where crossing lines comes into play.
In review, formations deploy 3 basic lines with possible sub-lines fielded within any or all lines. Backs, midfielders, forwards. When defending these lines define the teams formation. All too often in the youth ranks they also define a teams attacking shape. However, this makes the attack very predictable.
Crossing lines simply means a player moves from one line to or even better through another line. The easiest way to depict this scenario is to picture a wing back moving up the field through the midfield line and into an attacking position abreast of the forward line. The wing defender has crossed lines and therefore fundamentally changed the shape (or formation) that his team will attack in. If the responsibility for crossing lines from back to front in the formation / shape is shared amongst all backs this movement can prove to be unpredictable and extremely disruptive to the opponents maintaining their own shape or support system.
This movement is commonly defined as mobility, the fourth element to the game of soccer. In previous writings we have discussed the first three elements of the game of soccer; penetration, depth and width. It is the mobility used to establish these elements that help define a teams attacking shape and the support within that shape. More precisely it should be mobility between lines that defines a teams attacking shape and manipulates the defending shape of the opponent.
Crossing lines brings a fluidity to the game that rigid deployment in formation shape does not allow for. In military terms it is akin to defending in a castle while an opponent uses speed and mobility to bypass the castle. In soccer terms, crossing lines adds another dimension to a teams ability to create numbers up situations to attack with. Think again of the wing defender. In front of him a midfielder engages a defender. The wing defender moves forward on the flank isolating that defender in a 2 v 1 situation. Now the overlap combination passing sequence might be on or the defender might be set up to execute a wall pass / give and go sequence against. But the real value of mobility and crossing lines might be what is occurring on the backside of the opponents formation where your other wing defender might have freedom to run the flank all the way into the final third. Now, the opponents defense is stressed and under pressure of attack from both on-ball and off-the-ball threats on different fronts.
Crossing lines brings with it an element of danger when the ball is lost. You will find teams that are adept at crossing lines when attacking filling their defensive shape from back to front regardless of originally assigned positions. This is where pressing defenses come into play. Upon losing the ball the nearest three defenders press to either win the ball back or slow the counter attack allowing teammates to reestablish shape behind the ball. Six seconds. That is how long those pressing have to win the ball back. That is also how long teammates have to regain defensive shape behind the ball.
In conclusion, one of the games within the game of soccer is the battle of Keeping your shape vs Crossing lines and the transitional phases of going from one to the other.
Typically a formation will have three lines; backs, midfielders, forwards. Dependent on how each line is employed there might be what we shall call "sub-lines" within each line. For instance, in a 4-3-3 the midfield might be deployed in a triangle as 2 holding midfielders with an attacking midfielder in front of them. The triangle shape might shift to one holding midfielder and two attacking midfielders but the players manning these positions stay with their "line."
The same is true of the back line where two center backs are often found flanked by two advanced wing backs. In this case, the two advanced wing backs might appear to form a line with the holding midfielder(s), but their roles and responsibilities are still associated with the back line. Similarly if two or more forwards are deployed one might be pushed forward as a target while another is slightly withdrawn.
"Stay in your position" is another call often heard at youth soccer contests. It can mean the same thing as "keep your shape." Often times when I watch youth soccer matches I see two teams in rigid formation moving up and down the pitch in synchronization. A picture of armies of the 1700's facing one another in rank and file across a battlefield comes to mind.
Now, I think shape or more specifically support is a critical element to team defending. The system employed behind the support strives to make an attack(er) predictable and therefore more easily defended. This is sound soccer at any age or competition level.
If predictability of attack is a desired result of properly supported defending, then unpredictability is paramount to effective attacking. This is where crossing lines comes into play.
In review, formations deploy 3 basic lines with possible sub-lines fielded within any or all lines. Backs, midfielders, forwards. When defending these lines define the teams formation. All too often in the youth ranks they also define a teams attacking shape. However, this makes the attack very predictable.
Crossing lines simply means a player moves from one line to or even better through another line. The easiest way to depict this scenario is to picture a wing back moving up the field through the midfield line and into an attacking position abreast of the forward line. The wing defender has crossed lines and therefore fundamentally changed the shape (or formation) that his team will attack in. If the responsibility for crossing lines from back to front in the formation / shape is shared amongst all backs this movement can prove to be unpredictable and extremely disruptive to the opponents maintaining their own shape or support system.
This movement is commonly defined as mobility, the fourth element to the game of soccer. In previous writings we have discussed the first three elements of the game of soccer; penetration, depth and width. It is the mobility used to establish these elements that help define a teams attacking shape and the support within that shape. More precisely it should be mobility between lines that defines a teams attacking shape and manipulates the defending shape of the opponent.
Crossing lines brings a fluidity to the game that rigid deployment in formation shape does not allow for. In military terms it is akin to defending in a castle while an opponent uses speed and mobility to bypass the castle. In soccer terms, crossing lines adds another dimension to a teams ability to create numbers up situations to attack with. Think again of the wing defender. In front of him a midfielder engages a defender. The wing defender moves forward on the flank isolating that defender in a 2 v 1 situation. Now the overlap combination passing sequence might be on or the defender might be set up to execute a wall pass / give and go sequence against. But the real value of mobility and crossing lines might be what is occurring on the backside of the opponents formation where your other wing defender might have freedom to run the flank all the way into the final third. Now, the opponents defense is stressed and under pressure of attack from both on-ball and off-the-ball threats on different fronts.
Crossing lines brings with it an element of danger when the ball is lost. You will find teams that are adept at crossing lines when attacking filling their defensive shape from back to front regardless of originally assigned positions. This is where pressing defenses come into play. Upon losing the ball the nearest three defenders press to either win the ball back or slow the counter attack allowing teammates to reestablish shape behind the ball. Six seconds. That is how long those pressing have to win the ball back. That is also how long teammates have to regain defensive shape behind the ball.
In conclusion, one of the games within the game of soccer is the battle of Keeping your shape vs Crossing lines and the transitional phases of going from one to the other.
Labels:
attacking,
backs,
Conceive Believe Achieve Soccer,
Conceive Believe Achieve Soccer Camps,
crossing lines,
Defending,
Depth,
formation,
forwards,
midfielders,
mobility,
penetration,
Shape,
support,
Width
Wednesday
The Relationship of Space and Time to Positions, Formations and Systems of Play
In attempting to make the relationship between space and time more easily understood by young players I have at times used the phrase space = time and in a sense that is true. Space to play in is created by movement of players with and without the ball. Time is a product of individual players technical abilities with the ball. The two are interrelated but are not necessarily "equals", per se.
For many coaches, positions and formations are also an integral part of creating space and time in soccer. In a sense, a players positioning within a formation, even his role within a system of play, are important elements in his ability to create, recognize and utilize space. Formations and positions are also analytical tools in evaluating a players ability to see space, his ability to recognize how to move to create space. How much space is required is determined by the players technical abilities on the ball.
For many coaches, positions and formations are also an integral part of creating space and time in soccer. In a sense, a players positioning within a formation, even his role within a system of play, are important elements in his ability to create, recognize and utilize space. Formations and positions are also analytical tools in evaluating a players ability to see space, his ability to recognize how to move to create space. How much space is required is determined by the players technical abilities on the ball.
Sunday
Key Considerations for Alignment and System of Play
Key Considerations for Formational Alignment and System of Play
1) If the other team cannot score, they cannot win.
· We need to be secure defensively
·
The alignment of players within the defensive
system of play must consider the attacking abilities of each player as well
·
Line of confrontation – where do we wish to win
the ball?
·
Where do we want to funnel the opponent / where
do we wish opponent’s shots to originate from?
·
What is the strength of our goalkeeper? What
type of shots does he handle best? How can we best funnel the opponents attack
to our goalkeepers strengths?
·
How can we best funnel the opponents attack to
best create the space we want to use in transition and attack? Can we play 3 to
4 steps ahead defensively to set up our transition to the attack?
2) If we cannot
score, we cannot win.
· Identify the players with the best attacking
skills and finishing ability
· Identify the players that form the best
attacking combinations
· What space must we open up for the best
attackers / combinations of attackers to play in?
·
How do we best position the best attackers /
combinations of attackers defensively to move them as quickly as possible into the
space from which they can best utilize their attacking abilities?
· We must recognize that variety of attack comes
from not establishing a single pattern of play – that how we attack down the
left flank might differ significantly from how we attack down the right flank
and that how we attack through the middle should be a constant variable both
player based and availability dictated.
3) Rate each player on the team based on individual strength
and weakness.
·
Determine overall strength of the team and
overall weakness of the team.
·
How can we best play to our strengths?
·
How can we best limit the opponent’s ability to
expose our weakness?
Friday
Tactics are about manipulation of Space
Whenever two or more soccer coaches are gathered to talk about the nuances of the game talk invariably turns to formations, tactics and space. Formations are employed to accentuate certain and specific areas of space on the pitch that a team either wishes to deny to an opponent or utilize themselves to attack through. How a team manipulates space is its system of play. Specific tactical emphasis such as a pattern of play, particular combination play or purposefully channelling an attacker a certain direction serve to manipulate play towards or away from specific areas or space on the pitch.
In it's simplest form, when defending a team will want to deny space in front of the goal and when attacking will look to create space in front of the goal to be used only at the moment of striking a shot on goal. In a broader sense, manipulation of space must in each phase of the game and in each third of the field of play.
If a team wishes to attack directly they must preserve "negative space" between the opposing backs and their goal keeper until they are ready to play in that space. Target players playing in the seams between defending backs and defending midfielders are essential in keeping the defending backs high and negative space open while looking for vertical seams to attack through.
If a team is more about possessing the ball and building an attack, they will want forwards pushing the defending backs to create more space in front of them to possess the ball in. Possession teams are very much about changing the point of attack and forcing a defense to move laterally to create seems to attack through.
In summation, the coach needs to identify individual and collective strengths and weaknesses of his players. Then the coach must selection a formation that will accentuate strengths and cover weaknesses. Finally a decision needs to be made concerning space - how to deny space, how to create space and how to utilize space to his teams best advantage. This manipulation of space is what tactics are all about.
In it's simplest form, when defending a team will want to deny space in front of the goal and when attacking will look to create space in front of the goal to be used only at the moment of striking a shot on goal. In a broader sense, manipulation of space must in each phase of the game and in each third of the field of play.
If a team wishes to attack directly they must preserve "negative space" between the opposing backs and their goal keeper until they are ready to play in that space. Target players playing in the seams between defending backs and defending midfielders are essential in keeping the defending backs high and negative space open while looking for vertical seams to attack through.
If a team is more about possessing the ball and building an attack, they will want forwards pushing the defending backs to create more space in front of them to possess the ball in. Possession teams are very much about changing the point of attack and forcing a defense to move laterally to create seems to attack through.
In summation, the coach needs to identify individual and collective strengths and weaknesses of his players. Then the coach must selection a formation that will accentuate strengths and cover weaknesses. Finally a decision needs to be made concerning space - how to deny space, how to create space and how to utilize space to his teams best advantage. This manipulation of space is what tactics are all about.
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.
Thursday
Have you ever wondered why geese fly in a "V" formation?
When next you see geese flying overhead in a "V" formation take a moment to appreciate what you are actually seeing.
Teamwork.
Scientists have discovered that as each goose flaps its wings, it creates an updraft for the next bird behind it in the formation. By flying in a "V" formation the whole flock increases it flying range by more than 70% than if each goose flew on its own.
A soccer team sharing a common direction gets to where they are going quicker and easier, They lift one another along the way by understanding and believing in the trust present in each individual and in the collective whole.
Teamwork.
Scientists have discovered that as each goose flaps its wings, it creates an updraft for the next bird behind it in the formation. By flying in a "V" formation the whole flock increases it flying range by more than 70% than if each goose flew on its own.
A soccer team sharing a common direction gets to where they are going quicker and easier, They lift one another along the way by understanding and believing in the trust present in each individual and in the collective whole.
Tuesday
Match Hazards: Rain
Coaches and players will encounter "match hazards" or conditions that can impact the quality of play. It is good to have a plan prepared before match time to deal with these. We will look at some of these hazards, possible coaching instructions and team management or tactical solutions that could enhance results. We will address common match hazards and progress to others of the course of the series.
Rain
Rain presents two basic issues that must be dealt with.
1) A wet and slippery ball can skip causing misplays. This can be bad for field players and disasterous for goalkeepers.
2) A wet surface can cause players to slip, slide or fall resulting in missed plays and misplays.
A key consideration for playing on a slippery surface is to keep one's weight over their feet. Players will slip or their feet slide out from under them when their feet are positioned wider than their hips. This can necessitate players changing normal pursuit angles so they find themselves at a point where the ball will be instead of going directly to the ealiest point to intercept the ball. Getting in front of the ball takes on added importance.
It can also necessitate players shortening their strides as the point for making a play approaches. This is especially true if a change of direction is necessary. It is the planting of one's foot outside of the hips or out from under the body's weight that causes slips, slides and falls on a wet surface.
Preparing to play the ball by positioning yourself directly in its path whenever possible combined with movement directly to and in-line with the path of the ball is the best prevention for playing a ball that skips. The spin of the ball may alter its course slightly when it skips. The remedy here is to not allow the ball to hit the ground or play it on the short skip before it has a chance to more drastically alter course.
For goalkeepers in particular it is important to attack the ball on a wet. slippery surface. However, the "attack" must be in direct line with the path the ball is traveling. The danger for the goalkeeper is the same as for field players - that his feet will slip from under him when attempting to make a cut or dive to play the ball. Once again, the key is to keep the body's weight over the feet as much as possible.
A third point of emphasis to be considered is communication and resulting organization. The fact is, there will likely be more miscues on a wet, slippery surface be they ball related, player related or both. Effective communication and heightened atention to organization within the concepts of formation and system of play can reduce the number of potential mistakes and minimize the potential damage of mistakes that do occur.
Finally, many of the cleats manufactured today are for a specific ground type. There are hard ground cleats, firm ground cleats and soft ground cleats to mention a few. Expensive boots will have studs that can be shortened or lengthened to play in whatever weather conditions are encountered. Coaches need to remind players that if they have footwear designed for wet conditions that they need to wear these in rainy conditions.
Rain
Rain presents two basic issues that must be dealt with.
1) A wet and slippery ball can skip causing misplays. This can be bad for field players and disasterous for goalkeepers.
2) A wet surface can cause players to slip, slide or fall resulting in missed plays and misplays.
A key consideration for playing on a slippery surface is to keep one's weight over their feet. Players will slip or their feet slide out from under them when their feet are positioned wider than their hips. This can necessitate players changing normal pursuit angles so they find themselves at a point where the ball will be instead of going directly to the ealiest point to intercept the ball. Getting in front of the ball takes on added importance.
It can also necessitate players shortening their strides as the point for making a play approaches. This is especially true if a change of direction is necessary. It is the planting of one's foot outside of the hips or out from under the body's weight that causes slips, slides and falls on a wet surface.
Preparing to play the ball by positioning yourself directly in its path whenever possible combined with movement directly to and in-line with the path of the ball is the best prevention for playing a ball that skips. The spin of the ball may alter its course slightly when it skips. The remedy here is to not allow the ball to hit the ground or play it on the short skip before it has a chance to more drastically alter course.
For goalkeepers in particular it is important to attack the ball on a wet. slippery surface. However, the "attack" must be in direct line with the path the ball is traveling. The danger for the goalkeeper is the same as for field players - that his feet will slip from under him when attempting to make a cut or dive to play the ball. Once again, the key is to keep the body's weight over the feet as much as possible.
A third point of emphasis to be considered is communication and resulting organization. The fact is, there will likely be more miscues on a wet, slippery surface be they ball related, player related or both. Effective communication and heightened atention to organization within the concepts of formation and system of play can reduce the number of potential mistakes and minimize the potential damage of mistakes that do occur.
Finally, many of the cleats manufactured today are for a specific ground type. There are hard ground cleats, firm ground cleats and soft ground cleats to mention a few. Expensive boots will have studs that can be shortened or lengthened to play in whatever weather conditions are encountered. Coaches need to remind players that if they have footwear designed for wet conditions that they need to wear these in rainy conditions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)