By Mike Smith
“Make your opponent move in a way which helps you and hurts them.” Maybe an overly simplistic statement, but the logic is there. Too many times I see teams build a text book attack, have the ball out wide, numbers crashing the box and then the service comes in behind the front 2 or 3 attackers. I’m not talking about mis-hits, I’m talking about services which are consistently sent in a way which requires the attackers to slow down, stop , turn their backs to the goal and most times play the ball backwards. Compare this to the principles of good defense: Delay ( slow down ), Deny ( stop them, turn them away from goal ) Destroy ( make them play backwards, win the ball back ). It’s hard to mount a successful attack when your attackers are doing the defense’s job for them. Better set up angles, ball striking and foot preference are ways a team can quickly turn poor services into great ones, and it all comes down to the bend or spin on the ball.
As the diagram below shows, the direction of a good early service should be heading across goal past the back post or dropping in deep for a header or flick on. For a right footed player, the set up is important because too many times the ball actually ends up bending away from goal. This is fine if it’s on purpose to a target, but for me, this ball should be driven in. Again, it seems like a simple thing, but too many opportunities are missed here. Why play the ball in a way which requires perfection when in reality those perfect moments are few and far between? Why not FORCE your opponent to be perfect, knowing they seldom will be, and then create a chance from their mis-steps?
If your right footed wing is serving the ball in from the right, instead of facing the goal and using the side of the foot to drive through the right side of the ball ( which results in bending off target ) try these small adjustments: 1. Hit the bottom center of the ball with the side of the foot and push it straight towards goal. 2. Drive it with the instep 3. Adjust the set up angle to be less open to goal focusing on the near post rather than the far post. Using the side of the foot on the right side of the ball while being less open will bend it in a bit deeper and on target. 4. Over hit it; look to a spot behind the goal, or the back of the net, don’t focus on the posts. 5. Use a left footed standard ( inside of foot outside of ball ) service on the right side and a right footed standard service on the left. This will send the bend into goal instead of away.
To practice these adjustments, try the following drills:
Set Up
On the attacking third of the field, use the goalie box as a target zone. Two attackers start at the top of the penalty box at the corners of the arc. Two defenders start on the posts ( as shown below). A ball is placed at the top of the attacking third and an additional attacker is set up wide to send in a service. There is no keeper. Play starts with one attacker sprinting to the ball and sending it out wide. When the ball is hit, the defenders must run to cones at the top of the arc before picking up defensive pressure. The remaining attacker may not move to goal until the attacker who hits the ball wide passes them crashing into goal.
The idea is for the ball to be played into the box ahead of the attackers thus behind the defenders.
Progression
As a progression, add an additional wide attacker and defender ( as shown ) who may run in as soon as the first pass is made. A final addition of a keeper and this becomes a great exercise to make sure the services are getting behind the defense and in front of the attack.
Coaching Points
The focus here in on aggressive services which put the defenders on their heels. This is a great chance to identify those players who can hit consistently dangerous crosses and serves. It is also a good opportunity to work a left footed player on the right side and use a more naturally hit in swinger to become more dangerous. The same applies if the drill is run from the left – as it should be. The coach should work with the serving players from both sides as the drill progresses.
By Mike Smith
Currently the Head Coach for University Heights Academy Boys Soccer in Hopkinsville, KY , Mike is in his 14th year as a high school head coach with 23 years coaching experience overall and 34 year as a student and fan of the game. He holds a USSF D License.
