COACHING - HINTS AND TACTICS.

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Attack

 

The best attacking strategy is direct play - Five passes or less.

First objective gain entry into the attacking third of the field. Five techniques are important in the attainment.

(Best option first).

1. Long forward passes to the back of the defence.

2. Forward runs without the ball.

3. Forward passes to feet, supported by a player at an angle to receive the ball and pass it forward.

 4. Receiving and turning with the ball.

5. Forward runs with the ball.

 

Second objective is to increase, or at least maintain, the momentum of the attack once the ball is in the attacking third of the field. Five things are important here.

1. Shoot at every opportunity.

2. Attack opponents by dribbling whenever possible.

3. Pass the ball to the back of the defence whenever possible.

4. Cross the ball early from the flanks (wing) to the back of the defence.

5. Retain a compact team shape.

 

If the Second objective is achieved, it will be easier to attain the Third objective, which is to do better than the opponents in four important elements of the game.

1. Shooting - Shooting at every opportunity itself provides more shooting opportunities in the form of rebounds and deflection.

2. Being awarded set plays.

3. Crossing the ball.

4. Winning the ball back in the attacking third of the field.

 

Defence

 

The best defensive strategy is to win the ball as near to the opponents' goal as possible. This can happen if the team retains a compact shape.

 

A compact formation makes three important things possible for a defending team.

1. It means the player on the ball can be challenged quickly. This prevents him, or at least delays him, from playing the ball forward.

2. The challenging player immediately has defensive support (Cover a team-mate challenging the player with the ball, Mark an opponent in the area of the ball, Occupy important space goal-side of the ball)

3. Players are available to track opponents making forward runs.

 

The chances of conceding a goal will be reduced further if players defending in and around their own penalty area can achieve the following four objectives.

1. Being first to the ball.

2. Clearing with height, distance and width.

3. Defending the area of the far post.

4. Not getting caught in possession in the defending third of the field. Remember Challenge, Cover, Mark, Occupy, Track.

 

As a general guide, defenders should try to stay within a triangle formed by the position of the ball, the position of their immediate opponent and the centre of the goal. Their exact position should enable them to do three things.

1. If the ball is played behind them, they should be able to beat their immediate opponent to the ball.

2. If the ball is played to their immediate opponent, they should be able to make up the ground while the ball is in motion.

3. They should be able to keep the ball and their immediate opponent in view at all times.

 

 

Helpful Hints

 

1. Don't dribble when you can make a constructive pass or cross.

 2. Move to the open space. Move away from your defender (opponent), you are then in a better position to receive the ball.

 3. As a defender, when you are under extreme pressure (pressed), kick the ball down field or out the park (ROW Z).

 4. When the ball is lost from (out of) view, all forwards must (should) think defensively.

 5. Make constructive passes across the field and behind as well as in front.

 6. Defenders can back pass to the goalkeeper as a safety manoeuvre. Pass to the outside of the goalmouth to reduce risk of an own goal..

 7. Make the easy plays. Let the ball do the work. A ball travels faster than you can. lt's the quickest way to set up attacks..

 8. Wing forwards should stay wide and close to the touchline. This brings the defender out from the middle of the field and allows more open space for your attack.

 9. Don't be afraid to talk (shout) to your teammates on the field. Let them know what is happening in the area around them, which their field of vision cannot pick up.

 10. As a defender faced with two or more opponents (attackers), retreat slowly (stopping or slowing down the attacker) giving more time for team-mates to come back to help. Don't "DIVE IN".

 11. Forwards should switch positions at various times during the game with other members of the forward line. Example, centre forward with winger. This sometimes confuses the defence.

 12. Never retreat with your back to the ball. Watch the ball at all times.

 13. As a defender stay between ball and goal.

 14. The closer the play develops toward your own goal, the tighter the defence must (should) be.

 15. As a defender challenge only when you have a good chance to obtain (getting possession of) the ball. Again don't DIVE IN.

 16. Defenders should have restraint and control. Let your opponent commit himself first or make the mistake.

 17. Delaying principles are good tactics in defence. This means slowing down the opponent's forward line.

 18. Back up teammates and help cover the space behind fellow players.

 19. Always move toward the pass, don't wait for the pass to come to you.

 20. A most important thing to learn is quickness off the mark. The first three or four steps are all important in soccer. Beat your opponent to the ball.

 21. What you do without the ball is as important as what you do with the ball.

 22. A well-placed shot is more effective than a hard shot at the goal.

 23. An effective player is always in good physical shape.

 24. Play the ball, not the man. (You cannot play the man and the ball at the same time).

25. Play to the whistle!

 26. Respect the referee's decision.

 

 

Tactics - Losing Tight Markers

 

 Throughout a game there will be many occasion when a player is marked tightly, particularly in and around the penalty box and the central midfield area. Many teams will designate a defender as a "man to man" marker to nullify a key player on the opponent's team.  

 

Often the defender will try to intimidate the player physically and psychologically and throw them off their game. When this happens, the player must be disciplined and patient. Once the player gets into an ongoing argument with his marker, he has lost the battle.

It is important to pick and choose your times to make explosive

Runs for the ball. One should lull the marker into a false sense of comfort by making runs at half pace, then, when the time is right, explode away from the defender for the ball.

 

 

Making runs when being marked tight:

 

If you want the pass into the space in front of you, take the defender deep and away from the ball, then explode back into the space created.

 If you want the ball played into the space behind the marker, bring the defender with you towards the ball, then turn and explode into the space you have created behind the defender.

 Use the marker as a springboard by pushing tight on the defenders chest and force them on their heels, as you are ready to run for the ball.

 

Offside Position

 It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position.

A player is in an offside position if:

He is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent.

 

A player is not in an offside position if:

He is in his own half of the field of play or he is level with the second last opponent or he is level with the last two opponents.

 

Offence

 

A player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by:

Interfering with play or interfering with an opponent or gaining an advantage by being in that position.

 

No Offence

 

There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball directly from:

A goal kick or a throw-in or a corner kick.

 

Infringements/Sanctions

 

For any offside offence, the referee awards an indirect free kick to the opposing team to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred.