| It is harder to teach soccer attacking than soccer | | | | realistic for a recreational coach. |
| defense. It is easier to have a good soccer defense | | | | A Possession attacking style will only work if you have |
| than a good soccer offense because soccer defense | | | | a great team without any weak players. The ideal |
| is about destroying (or disrupting) and soccer attacking | | | | Attacking Style would be to control the ball when you |
| is about creating. Recreational soccer teams can have | | | | attack. Since we know that a player can't dribble very |
| a decent defense by simply putting tough, aggressive | | | | far against good defenders, it would seem logical that |
| players near the goal you are defending and having | | | | the best way to control the ball is by passing it, and |
| them kick the ball away. By doing so, the opponent | | | | that is true. That Attacking Style is called a |
| must start the soccer attack over each time and if | | | | "Possession" style (or a short passing style or an |
| your Midfielders or Forwards can win those cleared | | | | "Indirect" style). Ideally, the team with the ball would |
| balls, then not only do you have the opportunity to | | | | control the ball all over the field, even if the ball is near |
| attack and score, but you keep the ball away from the | | | | your own goal (which is called the "Defensive Third"). In |
| opponent so the opponent can't score. | | | | fact, many professional teams play this way. But it is |
| On the other hand, to score against a good defense | | | | also true that not all professional teams play this way, |
| usually requires a coordinated effort involving several | | | | and not all National Teams play this way. The reason |
| players and skillful soccer passing, dribbling, teamwork | | | | is that it is difficult to make lots of consecutive short |
| and doing the right thing at the right time. One | | | | passes while under pressure and if you turn over the |
| mistake...one bad pass...and the attack ends with the | | | | ball near your goal, your opponent might score. Think |
| ball either kicked away or with the opponent gaining | | | | about U.S. football...most of the time a team will punt on |
| possession of the ball. And even if the attackers are | | | | fourth down if they are within their own 35 yard line |
| successful in getting close enough for a decent shot, | | | | (which is their Defensive Third). The reason is because |
| the ball must still get past the Goalkeeper and go into | | | | it is too risky if they were to turn over the ball there. |
| the goal for a score to count. | | | | Here is my recommendation: Use the Attacking Style |
| Be realistic. When deciding which Attacking Style to | | | | that is realistic for your team and that gives your team |
| teach your team, you must be realistic or you will be | | | | the best chance to be successful. Some coaches |
| disappointed, your team will become frustrated, you will | | | | think they should try to teach recreational players a |
| be unsuccessful and no one will have much fun. Let | | | | "Possession" style of attack for the entire field. That is |
| me use an analogy: If you decide you want to learn to | | | | probably unrealistic for 99% of all recreational teams. |
| juggle tennis balls using your hands, you will first start | | | | On the other hand, most Rec teams can play an |
| with one or two balls - you won't start with 4. I actually | | | | Attacking Style that uses long kicks (a "direct" style) to |
| learned how to juggle tennis balls and started with one, | | | | get the ball into their Attacking Third (the third of the |
| then two, then 3. I never got to 4 because I didn't want | | | | field closest to the opponent's goal) or into the |
| to dedicate the time to practicing. | | | | Attacking Half and then play a Possession style to the |
| When deciding what Attacking Style you will teach | | | | extent they are able. I don't think you are hurting |
| your team, you must be realistic about your player's | | | | anyone by using this style and the way I advise you to |
| abilities, the number of weak players you have on your | | | | teach this is very different from just kicking the ball |
| team, and the amount of soccer practice time you | | | | hard - you can teach your Midfielders and Forwards to |
| have. The Attacking Style you can successfully use | | | | shift so they are in position to win balls that are cleared |
| with a team of all great players that practices 3 hours | | | | by the Fullbacks. How do the Midfielders and Forwards |
| per week year-round and has been together for a | | | | know where to position themselves? It is simple: |
| year (e.g., a Travel team) will be different from the | | | | Teach your Fullbacks to kick a "Lofted Pass" straight |
| style you can successfully use with a Recreational | | | | ahead and teach the Midfielders and Forwards to |
| team that has a mixture of players (some good and | | | | expect that and to position so they can win those balls. |
| some weak) and only practices one hour per week. | | | | This is an Attacking Plan that is simple to teach and |
| Do you have any weak players?. Don't expect a | | | | can be used successfully by Rec teams. If a Rec |
| Recreational team that has weak players and only | | | | player goes on to play on a Travel team, he or she will |
| practices once a week to be able to play the same | | | | simply learn a more controlled Attacking Style at that |
| Attacking Style as a Travel Team that has all great | | | | time. But in the meantime they will have fun and can |
| players and practices for 3 hours per week. Why | | | | learn a lot, such as proper technique for an |
| does the number of weak players matter? The | | | | inside-of-foot pass, an advanced throw-in, Passing to |
| reason is because if you try to use a Possession style | | | | Space, Movement off the Ball, First Attacker/Second |
| of attack, weak players are like "weak links in a chain". | | | | Attacker/Third Attacker, how to shift to be in position |
| I don't say this to be mean, just to make the point that | | | | to win a cleared ball, hustling and playing hard, that they |
| it is a factor you must consider when choosing an | | | | must position and fight to win the ball, and a |
| Attacking Style. If you have 3 players who can pass | | | | Possession style of attack in the Attacking Third or |
| the ball and one who can't, a short passing attack | | | | Attacking Half. And on defense coaches can teach |
| won't work if it involves the player who can't pass. | | | | Shift & Sag (essentially maintaining shape and funneling |
| This is why in some ways recreational coaches have | | | | for those of you who use those terms), First Defender |
| a tougher job than travel coaches, and the Attacking | | | | Second Defender, marking, a zone defense and many |
| Style that is realistic for a travel coach might not be | | | | other things. |