Team Strategy - Offense & Defense

By Matt Zipin, Head Varsity Boys Soccer Coach, Germantown Friends School

Keys to Effective Team Offense:  Poise, Patience and Control

When we have the ball, all players are on offense.  We should be moving up the field as a team, maintaining our shape and relative distance from each other.
 
Spread the field.  Don't bunch--it makes us easy to defend.
 
Move the ball inside-outside-inside.  If you receive the ball in the middle, look to the other side of the field--that's where the space is.
 
Long balls should always be aimed at the corner flags--never up the middle (where the goalie gets them).
 
When you are in a stationary position to receive the ball, always face the person passing the ball.  Come to meet the ball---never wait.  If you are expecting a lead pass, sprint into space.
 
Cross, shoot and finish.  The opposite wing or midfielder is responsible for the far post.  No ball should cross the goalmouth without us scoring!
 
With your back to the goal, play the ball backwards to a teammate facing the goal.
 
Look up before you receive the ball.  Have an idea of what to do before you are forced to act.
 
In the offensive third of the field, the order of most dangerous to least dangerous to the defense is:  1. Shoot; 2. Dribble; 3. Pass.
 
Free kicks--no second whistle.  The sooner we can put a ball into play the more we surprise the defense.  Same thing for throw-ins--pick the ball up and throw it down the sideline.  When we get within 30 yards of the goal, however, we will try to throw to the goalmouth, so we want our best throwers taking these chances.
 
Practice makes perfect (or at least stimulates improvement!).

Keys to Effective Team Defense:   Pressure and support
 
Each player is responsible for guarding a player on the other team.  This is basic man to man marking.  In the offensive third of the field, we can take more chances with marking.  In the middle third, our defense must tighten up, and in the defensive third, we must mark each opposing player tightly.
 
One player should always pressure the ball.  Stagger your feet when you're playing the ball.  This allows for better balance, quicker starts backwards and enables you to force the player to one side or the other.
 
Know your opponent's weakness. Most players are right footed and will go to some lengths to kick with that foot.  Forcing a player to her weakness is almost always a good idea (except near to the goal, where your want to force everyone to the outside if possible).
 
If your player is one pass away from the ball, you must be goal-side and near your player, so that you can intercept or put immediate pressure on your player should she receive the ball.  If your player is more than one pass from the ball, you should drop back into space while still staying goal-side of your player.  In the defensive third, however, always know where your player is and never drop back into the goalmouth--that gets in the goalie's way.
 
The best way to play defense is to intercept passes, preventing your player from touching the ball.  If you can't intercept, then force the player receiving the ball to get it going away from her goal, with her back to the goal.  Then don't allow her to turn towards goal.  If she goes the wrong way, you've done your job.  If she gets the ball and turns towards goal, contain her--don't swipe at the ball.  Move closer to the ball without giving away your position and try to block passes or dribbles.
 
In the defensive third, your goal is simple:  Don't allow your player any shots or crosses.  This is best done by not allowing your player to touch the ball at all.  Blocking crosses and shots is of utmost importance.
 
In the offensive third and middle third, force the ball to the middle if you have a choice.  In the defensive third, however, always force the ball to the outside.  This limits high percentage chances which generally come from the middle of the field.
 
Never put the ball across your own goalmouth unless it's going 50 yards in the air.