| When a practice has to "
reload " to a specific starting point it can slow down the activity. This
can be good if that time is used to digest what is being learned. But, it
can effect the players enjoyment and concentration as the game may not
build to a truly competitive level. The constant start and stop might
become boring. There are also moments that cannot be effectively coached
from a static start. The nature of the soccer problem is dynamic and
unpredictable. Some of these moments and their solutions are presented
below. Soccer Problem: The
team as a whole fails to build up properly after they win possession. Too
many players attempt to "win the game" with the first pass or try to beat
the opponents with a dribble when they gain possession. The moment,
winning possession, is the event that triggers the soccer problem. One
method to deal with this would be to construct a game with a rule that
would encourage composed play. Before a team can score a goal they must
make three passes without the opponents touching the ball. Now, when they
win the ball their first thought must be to get the passes in. The value
is on composed build up.
Soccer problem: The
sweeper plays as a goal keeper. He is not coming out and supporting his
team mates and is ineffective in his role due to his poor positional play.
 In
this game every member of each team must be in their opponents half before
they can score. In this example number 8 is threatening the blue goal. The
number 3 must read the situation and decide when and where to cross
midfield in order to allow his team to score. Too early can leave his team
open to a counter, too late can cost a goal.
Soccer Problem:
Several players are content with kicking the ball out of play. They are
unwilling or incapable of attempting to build up play. Try a rule that
each time a team gives away a corner or a throw-in the other team gets an
"out." When a team gets three "outs" they get a goal. This puts a high
value on keeping the ball in play and a consequence on choosing the easy
alternative.
Soccer Problem: The
midfielders don't get back for their basic defensive responsibilities. The
sweeper is left alone to handle a numbers down situation on too many
occasions. To tell a player to always stay back shackles the players with
a "coaches" solution. It is a players problem and requires a players
solution.
 In
this game there are three zones. If a team scores and there is only one
defender in his back zone, closest to his own goal, the scoring team gets
three points for the goal. If there are two defenders in the back zone the
goal gets one point. In this example the blue number 7 has a 1v1 against
the orange number 3. The orange numbers 6 & 8 must communicate to solve
this problem. The solution is up to the players.
Soccer Problem:
Several players take too long to reach a decision when on the ball. They
either kill the game through slow, indecisive play or hold the ball too
long and go off on exploratory runs. Build a game with 2 touch ball can't
stop as a rule. Here, the players can use one or two touches but they
cannot let the ball come to a rest. They have as much time to make a
decision and play as a rolling ball will allow.
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