By Mike Smith
I love using a fast wing who can draw out an extra defender as they blast past their first marker opening up the box for a service in to 3 or 4 additional attackers. Realistically however, I, like most of you, don’t always have the fastest player on the pitch. And what about those times when your side is the slowest team on the pitch?
One of my first tactical lessons in soccer was hiding the only two real fast players we had in the center of the field / formation and it was a season when the “worst” team in the league quickly became one of the best. The idea is simple, the opponents back line will mark whoever is “ up top”, regardless of their speed. They will also keep their best distributors in the central areas of the field and most likely put their own speed, “up top”. In a 4-4-2 with a diamond midfield and wing forwards, two fast players serving as left and right mids can be an advantage. With good timing, even players of average speed can appear faster than they are when coming out of midfield against defenders who are already occupied. The basic concept is shown below.
The use of wider forwards should draw the outside backs further away from goal, at least on the ball side. Using an attacking mid should occupy the center backs – but this player should look to distribute instead of attack – and a holding mid should give good support and distribution options in the center. In the diagram below, distribution is coming from the left back who has several options to play simply with the left mid and wing forward. This motion will open up opportunities on the left side ( as shown by the passing lines ) as well as open up space for possession.
With the forwards and attacking mid focusing on shape and checking down for support the defenders will have to make a choice. IF they sit back and mark passively, your side will have a ton of possession. IF they slide up and out to mark, good timing and distribution combined with speed can exploit the spaces between the defenders. This will at worst force 7 defending players to defend 5 attackers, again leading to increased possession for the attacking team. Following is a great drill to help your players understand and implement this concept.
Lesson 1
Give and Go Combo
Set Up
Groups of 3 players rotate between the stations, shooting on the keeper each time ( as shown). Set up a triangle of cones, one left center at the top of the attacking third, one at the top left of the penalty box and one to complete the triangle on the touch line. The deep central player starts with the bal and sends the ball up to the top of the box. This player sends the ball back out to the line where the line player tries to hit the initial deep player on the run, ball on the ground, for one touch in the box and a shot. The players rotate around as shown and repeat. This can actually be set up on both sides of the field and can even accommodate multiple keepers in goal.
Coaching Points
The timing of the run and the sharpness of the entry pass are the focus here. In a match, this type of ball movement most often times results in a drop all the way back, an attack up the touch line to the end line, or a cross. The quick run from the midfield can exploit a defense getting ready to shift on the cross and timing is everything.
Lesson 2
Create the Space to Exploit
Set Up
On a half field, run two cone lines from the top corners of the penalty box to the half line creating two wide zones ( as shown ). An attacker and defender work and must stay in each zone. Play starts when the keeper sends a free pass out to one of the attackers in the wide zones. Inside the central section, 3 defenders work against 4 attackers, who set up in a diamond shape. This is a fairly straight forward drill. Two central attackers shift to support the attacker who receives the ball wide. IF the central defenders shift over, the ball should be played as in the previous drill to exploit the opposite central space. IF the defenders anticipate this and hold, the ball can be played directly into the near space. The keeper should alternate which side the initial pass in is made to and the defenders simply clear out any balls they win and the keeper restarts the play.
Coaching Points
The only focus here is quickly exploiting the space between the central and wide defenders. The coach can limit the amount of time the wide attacker has to play the ball if pressure from the outside defender doesn’t force the issue. Even if the wide attacker has to turn and shield, a drop to the deep central attacker should allow for a combining shot in the central areas. IF not, the switch can be made to the opposite wide attacker. The coach should focus the attacking team on immediately recognizing when the vulnerable central space develops and quickly being able to exploit it.
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.
