It does not take a genius coach of 10-year old kids to figure out his team will score goals if they kick the ball long and let the biggest, fastest forward chase it down.
Eventually, relying on that tactic against good teams just won’t work all the time. Maybe not anytime!
There is always a place for the “through ball” and the long cross that changes the point of attack from one side of the field or another, but a critical component of controlling a soccer game is controlling possession of the ball.
After all, if you have the ball the other team has to defend. If they are defending, they aren’t attacking[show_disconnected][show_to accesslevel=’Subscriber’]. If they aren’t attacking, they are not scoring goals. If they are not scoring goals, they aren’t winning the ball game.
Young players should be taught to possess the ball when the opponent isn’t defending with pressure. And they must be taught how to possess under extreme high pressure from defenders.
This can often be done in short-sided exercises and in confined areas, such as grid training.
As a coach, there are some things you need to be aware of regarding possession. Without a lot of pressure, players tend to want to dribble.
There is certainly nothing wrong with dribbling. It is a part of the individual skill set that is often lacking in young players. However, you don’t want your players to dribble into pressure and lose the ball. Or beat one player and continue to dribble until they lose the ball.
Teach your players to play at a rate of speed that will challenge the opposing defense. Whether that is passing or dribbling to maintain possession.
Do not allow the defense to relax, and certainly don’t allow those defensive players to be lazy. Make them work.
Teach your players to play with their heads up. See the open teammate. Find him/her with a pass that will keep them from being immediately pressured. Teach the receiving player to glance over each shoulder to see where the defenders are before receiving the ball.
And make the defense move! By making defenders move to apply pressure and drop to provide support, your players will be able to find gaps in the defense. Catching them in transition will allow your team to advance the ball through the midfield, and create scoring opportunities in the final third.
Inside the penalty box, a ball that is played or carried across the face of the goal also makes the goalkeeper move. A goalkeeper moving laterally is a vulnerable goalkeeper. Good opportunity for a diagonal shot to the far post!
Possession is control. Control is golden!
Eventually, relying on that tactic against good teams just won’t work all the time. Maybe not anytime!
There is always a place for the “through ball” and the long cross that changes the point of attack from one side of the field or another, but a critical component of controlling a soccer game is controlling possession of the ball.
After all, if you have the ball the other team has to defend. If they are defending, they aren’t attacking[show_disconnected][show_to accesslevel=’Subscriber’]. If they aren’t attacking, they are not scoring goals. If they are not scoring goals, they aren’t winning the ball game.
Young players should be taught to possess the ball when the opponent isn’t defending with pressure. And they must be taught how to possess under extreme high pressure from defenders.
This can often be done in short-sided exercises and in confined areas, such as grid training.
As a coach, there are some things you need to be aware of regarding possession. Without a lot of pressure, players tend to want to dribble.
There is certainly nothing wrong with dribbling. It is a part of the individual skill set that is often lacking in young players. However, you don’t want your players to dribble into pressure and lose the ball. Or beat one player and continue to dribble until they lose the ball.
Teach your players to play at a rate of speed that will challenge the opposing defense. Whether that is passing or dribbling to maintain possession.
Do not allow the defense to relax, and certainly don’t allow those defensive players to be lazy. Make them work.
Teach your players to play with their heads up. See the open teammate. Find him/her with a pass that will keep them from being immediately pressured. Teach the receiving player to glance over each shoulder to see where the defenders are before receiving the ball.
And make the defense move! By making defenders move to apply pressure and drop to provide support, your players will be able to find gaps in the defense. Catching them in transition will allow your team to advance the ball through the midfield, and create scoring opportunities in the final third.
Inside the penalty box, a ball that is played or carried across the face of the goal also makes the goalkeeper move. A goalkeeper moving laterally is a vulnerable goalkeeper. Good opportunity for a diagonal shot to the far post!
Possession is control. Control is golden!
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