Where you play the ball,
when, and how will come with experience. To gain experience, try
to get in as many games as possible. Whether it's small sided
games, two on two or three on three to little goals (two bags -
two feet apart or two cones that act as the goals): these types
of competitive games will improve your play and help you make
quick decisions.
Of course,
real eleven versus eleven games are ideal - there's always a
different feeling surrounding an actually game. You will learn
something new every time you play. But it's important to play
more games, whether real eleven versus eleven or a small sided
pick up game at the park with friends. In each setting you can
improve different parts of your game.
Often the pace of the game
will dictate where you play the ball. If you play a good team
and you are constantly put under pressure you will be forced to
play the ball quickly. This will only make you a better player
as you get older, so try to play at a game like intensity all
the time – look to play against the best competition. Don't do
things that you know you wouldn't get away with if you were
playing a good team.
Overall, the key to playing
good soccer is keeping the ball moving by playing one and two
touch soccer - passing and moving off the ball and being
creative. The ability to do this goes back to a good first
touch, using your body to shield the ball, and knowing what you
want to do with the ball before you get it.
In a way
soccer is about getting the ball into the right person's feet;
the one who has the most time and space (faces the least
pressure) and is in the most advantageous position to score or
make that goal scoring pass.
Spread out on offense and
become a compact unit on defense. On offense, use the entire
field to open up the defense - creating gaps and spaces to
attack. On, defense you want to do the opposite, stay compact
as a team unit and defend with numbers. For instance, if the
opponent is attacking down the right side, then the far right
midfielder can move into the middle and help out since the
player on the far side is not as dangerous as those attacking
with the ball.
Of course,
he or she must still be aware of the player they are marking,
but they can gamble in a sense, and keep their eye on the ball
and the wide player and help clog the middle and intercept
passes. If the opposition makes a long pass to the far left
winger, he or she needs to be able to get there before the ball
does, and then the whole team will have to shift positions to
the right side. If you gauge it right, you should be able to
arrive before the player has time to control the ball and attack
down the line. Make the player get his head down by putting
pressure on him – don’t be too far away or too close – but put
enough pressure on the player so that have to think and get
their head down.
On offense, to open up spaces
in the opposing teams defense, the key rule that you can follow
is keep the ball moving. Let the ball do the work. Play the
ball into the forwards feet, and then they lay it back to the
midfielder who plays the ball wide. The wide midfielder then
tries to get a cross in or switches the ball back to the other
side where there is more space.
Draw the
defense out by playing the ball into the forward's feet, and if
he or she is covered they can lay the ball back to a midfielder
or lay the ball off to someone making a run through towards the
goal. Your intention, when you play the ball to the forward who
is tightly marked is to draw the defense into this player, once
the forward gets a touch on the ball and holds the ball up with
a touch or two, you (the midfielder) can get the ball back and
play another player through who now becomes open, since the
defense has collapsed around the forward or shifted their focus
on the forward. You can make the pass in behind the defense and
get them chasing the ball with their heads turned.
A number of
ideas have been repeated throughout this site and these themes
are what should guide you as a player.
Here again are the key themes of this site:
1. Keep the ball moving with one or two touches.
2. Change of pace after making a move to beat a player on the
dribble.
3. Keep the ball out of your feet when controlling the ball –
control the ball out in front of you a few yards.
4. Play the ball with pace; make a crisp solid pass, whether it
is a 10 yard pass or 20 yards.
5. Get the cross in.
6. Take shots.
7. When dribbling, touch the ball with every step you take, to
ensure close control and enhance your ability to cut the ball
away from defenders.
8. Play the ball and move – get it and give it.
9. Demand the ball.
10. Always want the ball.
11.
Communicate – tell teammates to turn or man on or you have
time. When you make a pass give some directive along with that
pass.
You should also add to the above short list: spend time with the
ball on your own, whether it is practicing your dribbling moves,
juggling, or striking the ball against a wall - with both feet.
Back to Strategy
In terms of
style of play, selfish play becomes contagious. When someone is
dribbling all the time others will pick that up and do it
themselves or not be as active in the play and stop making runs.
The great thing about soccer is that this will usually correct
itself because the game doesn't allow you to play that way. The
team that moves the ball around and shares the ball the most
makes things the easiest for themselves and will have the most
scoring opportunities. If you play selfish soccer you will not
be successful in the long run.
Additionally, before you play the ball, when picking out a
player for a long pass or serving the ball in from a long
distance, you should have a plan in your mind of what is going
to take place next. The player you are making the pass to
should have someone to lay the ball off to or time to turn, or
you yourself should support the pass if nobody is available.
For instance, as when a defender drives the ball into a forward
who lays the ball back to the center midfielder. Picture a
series of plays that are going to take place when sending a long
ball or starting a play. Try to always think of where the ball
should go next – that way you’re making good decisions and
setting up your teammates – putting them in advantageous
positions.
For
instance, you want to play the ball to your teammates left foot
if they have someone covering them on their right side. You
want to lead your teammate with a pass that puts them in the
best possible scenario to make the next successful play or
pass. If they are making a run through towards the goal you
want to put the right pace on the ball so they don't have to
break their stride. Bend the ball into the path of the player
or if they are better on their left foot then play it to that
foot or play it to the space where your teammate can make the
play but not the defender.
Again, the best methods are to play the ball hard, to pass and
move, to play and follow your pass or to give it and get it, to
always want the ball, and always put yourself in a position to
receive the ball and make a play. If you are not going to get
the ball then make a run to receive the ball or take a defender
away and open up space for a teammate.
Making Runs
Playing and moving covers the basic idea behind making runs, but
the important thing to remember is to make these runs dangerous
and make runs that lead to goal scoring opportunities or open up
space for a teammate. Make a run in behind the defense for
instance, and then if that is not on, check back to the ball,
get the ball and lay it off and then make that run behind the
defender again, so the midfielder can chip or loft the ball to
you in the air. Or if the midfielder on the left side has the
ball you as the center midfielder can make a run down the line
to receive the ball or open up space for the left sided
midfielder to take his opponent on the dribble and move into the
open space in the middle.
Two Quick Reminders:
·
When going
at a defender on the dribble - make the defender commit to you
and then lay the ball off.
·
Angled runs
are harder to defend - and you can use your body to better
protect the ball you are receiving.
Another example of a run: the center midfielder has the ball
dribbling towards the right. The right winger or midfielder
breaks down the sideline to receive the ball, and if he or she
is covered checks back to the center midfielder to receive the
ball.
If there's
an opportunity to take the defender on, go for it, if not, lay
it back to the center midfielder and break down the line again
to receive the ball. The center midfielder can also make an
overlapping run. The right sided midfielder can play a one two
with the forward who is posting up. There are numerous options
if everyone on the field is looking to put themselves into
position to receive the ball and help one another.
To execute these types of exchanges, a give and go or overlap
you need to lead the defense into believing you are going in a
different direction. Keep them on their heels; lay the ball off
at the right time. You can always start over. If one side of
the field is too clogged up and crowded then switch the ball to
the other side. It could be two square exchanges of the ball
and then on the third pass someone breaks into the open space to
receive the ball in behind the defense.
Starting
over can mean making a run to get yourself open or setting up
your defender – for a return pass. Dart down the line and
checking back to get the ball. Make an angled run into the
middle and then checking to the outside. Essentially, this is
making space for yourself by taking the defender with you into
the middle and then breaking to the outside. Draw the defender
away from the space you want to receive the ball in - and then
check back into the space you just opened up. It could even
just be walking five yards towards the sideline and then
breaking back to the middle. Check back to the ball at an angle.
This way you will have more space to turn and see the field,
your body is already half turned if you check back at an angle.
You can check back to the ball side on – so you’re already half
turned, can see where you want to play the ball next, and keep
your body between you and the defender – control the ball with
the outside of your foot.
Running Without the Ball
If you make a run towards a
teammate with the ball but don't receive it - break into space
to drag the defender with you. For example, make an ambitious
run towards goal for a through ball just to draw attention to
yourself and open up a play for someone else – a decoy run.
Give and Go or
Wall Pass
The base foundation for all of soccer in a way. Again, the key
is setting up your defender. You almost need to sucker the
defender towards you, as though he or she is going to be able to
intercept the ball, then play the ball and go - accelerating
into the open space to receive the return pass.
The Cross Over Exchange
This is where you dribble the ball towards a teammate and
exchange the ball with him or her. You can also fake the
exchange and keep the ball if the defender has read the play.
Exchange the ball with same foot as your teammate. Meaning,
that if the player dribbling is using his or her right foot then
their teammate will pick the ball up with their right foot,
since they are coming in the opposite direction. This enables
you to shield the ball from the defender with your body.
Exchanging Positioning
This is another good way to open up space for a teammate and
confuse the opposition. For example, an outside midfielder you
can exchange positions with a center midfielder. If during the
game they end up in close proximity when making a run or when
exchanging the ball – this switch may confuse the defense for a
brief moment and give you an opening. The outside midfielder
makes a run into the middle, receives the ball, makes a pass to
the forward who holds the ball and then lays it back to the
outside midfielder who sends it down the line where the center
midfielder has made a run.
This kind of
movement can take place all over the field during a game.
Although it is important to fall back into your position or make
sure each position is covered, and your team shape is intact.
Again,
change of pace is the key, when dribbling and when making a run.
A slow jog, away from where you want to go or disguised by
moving into a different position, and then a quick movement
towards the area where you really want the ball. You need to
bring the defender away from where you want the ball played.
Pushing up the field so you can break back towards the ball. Or
the opposite, bring the defender back to the ball, so you can
break in behind him or her, and your teammate can play the ball
through and behind the defense.
Back Door Runs
Make an exaggerated move back to the ball then break away to
receive the ball behind the defender who has now overcommitted
to the play since he or she thought you were going to receive
the ball in front of you.
Serving the
Ball Into the Box
Target a player and drive the ball in to them, most likely a
forward. The important thing to keep in mind is playing the ball
at the appropriate pace. You can't serve the ball in to a player
from thirty yards away without striking the ball crisply and
solidly. If you send in a soft lofted ball it is likely to get
intercepted by a defender. Again, a driven ball is easier to
control and redirect, on to goal or to another player. It is in
this way that you should play soccer: see the next play that
should take place before you make a pass. You want to give a
directive via the pace of the ball.
Attack Quickly
Attack quickly when there's an advantage or an opportunity.
Don't hesitate. Try to keep the ball moving as quickly as
possible. If there's a chance to break - break with a few
precise and crisp passes.
Angled
Movements
Dribble down the line and cut the ball sharply to an open
teammate in the middle. For example: you are a wide midfielder,
you feint like you are going to take the ball down the line. You
are on the left side dribbling with your left foot so your body
is protecting the ball, and if the defender tries to poke the
ball away you will get a throw-in.
Dribble across the field, cutting in, and chop the ball out wide
just as a defender approaches. In both cases, waiting until the
last minute to release the ball. The key is making the defense
think you are going to do one thing and do the opposite. Sell
like you are going to dribble down the line or as though you are
cutting across the middle of the field.
Team Shape
Expand on offence and use the whole field. On defense you want
to become a compact unit - enclosing the area where your
opponent has possession of the ball, making it difficult for
them to make a pass. You will have enough time to reach an
opponent if they make a long pass.
On offence
you want to become big and use all of the available space on the
field. It's more difficult for the opposition to cover a team
that uses all of the space on the field rather than one that
doesn't require them to move and cover the whole field.
This is why it is good to switch play and keep the ball moving
on offense - so your opponent cannot close down your space and
make it difficult for you to make a pass and you can find holes
in their defensive structure by stretching them out. By moving
the ball laterally you can find time and space and pick out a
teammate in a goal scoring or advantageous position. |
