Own Possession.
The game plan during own possession is to
move the football downfield so that chances can be created (the build-up) and
to score goals.
General Principles are: Create as much space as possible, both width and
depth; Aim to get forward - play the ball deep when possible (first
choice); keep possession, this is vital to the objectives of the game; if
you can't play forward, play square to prepare for a forward pass; try to
maintain good formation.
individual responsibilities at 7 a
side
1 Keeper. Positions himself in relation
to the defender. Restarts play (roll, throw kick). Act as central build-up
player (an extra field player).
2 and 4 Full-backs. Position well apart, make the playing area as wide as
possible. Play the ball to the attackers. If there is room move forward
with the ball. Participate in the attack.
3 Central Defender. Position between attackers and full backs. Play the
ball to the attackers or defenders who are participating in the attack. If
there is space go forward with the ball. Take part in the attack. Try to
score if the opportunity arises.
5 and 7 Wing (Outside) forwards. Position in relation to defenders to make
the playing area as long as possible. Take the ball towards the opposition
goal as quickly as possible, individual run, or pass to a teammate who has
a clear run on goal. Take up position in front of goal to be available to
receive a pass and score. Try to score.
6 Centre Forward. Position as far forward as possible (make playing area
long), while still being in a position to receive a pass. Try to score,
individual run or exchanging passes with a teammate. Go to goal.
Opposition in Possession
Game Plan. Disrupt the opposition build-up. Win the ball back. Stop the
opposition from scoring.
How? Make the field of play as small as possible, depending on the
strength of the opposition; move towards the ball (pressing), move towards
own goal (fall back), Push towards the sideling (squeezing). Pressure the
ball carrier. Mark closely when in the vicinity of the ball. Positional/zonal
marking further from the ball. Stay useful as long as possible.
Note. The Game plan will not be achieved if you foul, so avoid giving away
free kicks.
individual responsibilities at 7 a
side
1. Keeper. Prevent opposition scoring.
Position in relation to the ball, opposition players and teammates.
2 and 4 Full backs. Prime task - DO NOT LET YOURSELF BE BEATEN; prevent
opposition from scoring. Cover the opposing attackers. Help teammates,
cover their backs. Win the ball.
3 Central defender. Prime task - DO NOT LET YOURSELF BE BEATEN; prevent
opposition from scoring. Cover the opposition centre forward. Help
teammates, cover their backs. Make the playing area as small as possible.
Win the ball.
5 and 7 Outside forwards. Disrupt opposition build-up. Win the ball. Help
teammates, cover their backs. Make the playing area as small as possible.
Don't let the player with ball pass you.
6 Centre forward. Cover the opposing central defender (he is expected to
come forward). Win the ball. Help teammates, cover their backs. Make the
playing area as small as possible. Don't let the player with ball pass
you.
Transition
Game Plan. Switch game plan from own
possession to opposition possession (or vice versa) as quickly as
possible.
How?
1. Loss of possession. Player nearest to the ball tries to stop it being
played forward by pressuring the player on the ball, forcing him to play
square, hold the ball, run with it or pass back. All players contribute to
preventing a goal by squeezing the opposing players (prevent them moving
inside). Block the shot. Take up a position which will avoid any direct
threat (pressing). Mark tight close to the ball if enough teammates are
available (delaying). Positional/zonal marking if not enough teammates are
available (delaying, do not dive in, do not get passed).
2. Winning the ball. The player winning the ball (interception, tackle
etc) looks first to playing the ball forward. Players further away ask for
the ball (avoiding offside). Player gaining possession can push the ball
forward into space and run into it himself to negate the offside trap
(depending on starting position). Spread out to create as much space as
possible. Try to stay out of the opponents' field of vision. Be useful by
taking the initiative and anticipating where the ball will go, including
dummy runs to draw attention away from teammates.
3. From defence to attack - how to get the ball from your penalty area to
the opponents' penalty area. The quickest way is the long ball (route
one). But this requires certain preconditions: Good kicking technique
(speed, height and direction); the player must have time and space to make
the kick (not easy when opponents are near; communication between kicker
and receiver; kicker must recognize the moment when the deep ball can be
played. The second way is using good positional play to enable the long
ball. This requires knowledge of the purpose of positional play. Players
must take position relative to the opposition players and the space
available in such a way as to create opportunities to play the long ball.
Whether or not the long ball will be played rest on whether or not a
teammate gets into the right position at the right time. The quality of
positional play can be improved by moving the ball faster (opponents have
to run more), taking positions at the right time, taking the right
position (not too close, not too far away).
4. From attack to defence after losing
possession (in depth principles of 1).
General principles are; player nearest the ball must do all that he can to
prevent the long ball, this could be the player who has just lost the
ball, but often he is not in a good position to do so and another player
must take this task; All players must switch immediately to defensive
mode, there is no time for emotions such as disappointment at losing the
ball or anger with the player who has lost the ball, players close to the
ball mark tightly. further away close down space, cover
teammates and mark zonally; The sweeper (or last man) must decide if he is
going to push up and play the offside trap or fall back and deprive the
striker of space (risky with a flat back four and requires good
coordination); keeper can act as extra sweeper by coming out of penalty
area; if there are too few players near the ball (e.g. you have been hit on
the break) players must take up zonal covering positions and delay the
opponents by good positional play and pressing up towards the ball so that
stranded players can get back into useful positions.
When your are attacking there must always be a good balance between those
actively involved in the attack and those holding back to clean up if
possession is lost.
Finally, the general principle is deny the opposition space to play (push
up towards the ball), be ready (and able) to use the offside trap, close
down space and most importantly do not get passed - remain useful for as
long as possible.
adapted from
National Soccer Coaches Association of America, PLAYING STYLES,
FORMATIONS, FUNCTIONAL TRAINING, 1998, pp 132-136 |
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