| One thing that a new coach needs to figure out when | | | | pressure. |
| learning how to coach soccer is how to develop a | | | | The problem comes when the defenders are not very |
| team philosophy based on the players that are | | | | fast, but pushing up is the only style of play the coach |
| available. There are many different tactics that a | | | | uses. The defenders do what they are told and move |
| coach could use during a game. Being able to adapt | | | | up to midfield. When the other team has a fast break |
| your teams style of play will make the teams success | | | | opportunity, the defenders cannot get back fast |
| much more likely. | | | | enough. The opposing team can now go one-on-one |
| It is very frustrating to watch is a coach that has | | | | or two-on-one against the goal keeper, which is a |
| already decided what style of soccer to play, | | | | matchup that favors the attackers. The opposing |
| regardless of the talent on the team. These coaches | | | | team scores, and the defenders get yelled at for not |
| may know how to coach soccer, but they are not | | | | falling back fast enough. |
| good at adapting. | | | | Look at your team. You see them every day at |
| Let's start by looking at one of the most popular | | | | practice. You know what they are capable of. If you |
| formations, the 4-4-2 formation. This formation uses | | | | have slower players on defense, adapt your style of |
| 4-defenders, 4-midfielders, and 2-forwards. This | | | | play so they do not push up as far, and have less |
| formation gives a team a nice balance of offense and | | | | distance to cover on defense. If you have faster |
| defense. The way a lot of coaches like to use this | | | | players, by all means push up to provide more |
| formation is to have the team "push up" when they | | | | offensive pressure on your opponent. |
| are on offense. What that means is that the players | | | | Part of learning how to coach soccer is learning |
| move further up the field as the ball moves up the field. | | | | different variations on basic formations that allow you |
| When the offensive team attacks with the forwards, | | | | to take advantage of your teams strengths, and |
| the midfielders move up to help with the attack, The | | | | minimize their weaknesses. You need to learn how to |
| defenders then move up to midfield to provide support. | | | | give your players the best opportunity for success. Do |
| This is a good style of play as long as your defenders | | | | not fall into a routine based on what worked for you |
| are fast enough to fall back on defense in the event | | | | for one season. Every team, and every season is |
| of a fast break. If your opponent has some speedy | | | | different. Learn to adapt. That is how you learn to |
| forwards, and can play the ball long, your defenders | | | | coach soccer. |
| must be able to get back quickly to provide defensive | | | | |