Soccer Edition 44

Welcome to the Soccer Newsletter. Today's topic is staying in touch with each other on the field.

If you haven't already seen it, there is, yet another, new thing on FineSoccer.com. It's an online survey to find out what others in the soccer community think about different things involving soccer. I will be running a new survey every two weeks or so and when the survey is over, I will publish the results and give my opinions. The first survey is real short and simply asks how many times does your club team train and for how long. Please take a moment and take the survey at http://finesoccer.com/survey.htm . I do 
want to emphasize that the questions on the current survey are for youth club teams only.

Too often, I see the ball in the offensive third of the field and I look back and see the backs on that team slowly walking up to midfield. It is almost they have the attitude of "we have done our job, now let the offense do theirs". While this is an extremely ineffective way to attack, it's no different then the forwards who don't think it terms of defending because "it's not our job". In today's game, all 11 players must be involved in the attack and all 11 must be involved in defending.

When there is a need for the back to play a long ball forward (either because they are under a tremendous amount of pressure or they see a great opportunity) it is extremely important to step up hard and join their teammates in the attack. The reasons for this are numerous. 

The first thing that is accomplished by stepping up on defense is that if the opposing team doesn't step with you, they will be in an offsides position. Note that I am not encouraging an offsides trap but rather that the defense step up to join the attack and if that puts the opponent into an offsides position then that is a bonus. The next thing that gets accomplished by stepping up is that if the ball is played back, they will be in a 
better position to win the ball. This is a case where the best defense is a good offense and by stepping up, it's easier to maintain possession of the ball, which is vital for a successful offense. The next thing it does is force the opponents to run with the backs. 
Many forwards think of the time when the opponent has the ball as the time when they rest so by making them run a lot during this time will both tire them out and take them out of their game. If the opponents do not run up with your backs, then the backs can continue to go forward since they are unmarked (and even if their team does lose the ball, they aren't at risk since the players they are marking will most likely be in an 
offsides position.

As you can see from this last paragraph, there are a lot of advantages for the backs to step up and join their teammates in the attack. What are the disadvantages? Well they will have to be willing to make the runs forward and there is always the risk of three backs stepping up and one not which will keep everyone onsides. This is where  communication from the teammates is so important.

What are the advantages to not stepping up? The only one I can think of can be best explained by a story I was told by a friend a long time ago about an indoor game he was reffing between 8 year olds. The keeper would make a save and then throw the ball right back to the other teams forwards. The ref went over to this keeper and told him that he should throw the ball to his team. The keeper responded that when he throws the
ball to the other team, he gets to make more saves and that was fun! If you are a back and want to be attacked all the time, then sit back and watch. If you want to be part of a successful team and have the opportunity to attack some, then step up and play
soccer.

This same theory applies to the forwards as well. When they lose possession of the ball, their job is not over. It's much more effective to defend in the offensive third of the field then in the defensive third. If you, as a forward, lose the ball, then you get it back!

If the ball is played down the field, then you are responsible for getting back and defending. If the other teams backs step up like I mentioned earlier, then you as a forward must stay goal side of them (between them and the goal you are defending). If one of the backs on the opposing team makes an overlapping run to go forward, then one of the forwards must track back with her. 

Soccer is a 90 minute game (depending upon the age group) so while there certainly are times when players can buy some rest, they must be willing to play on both sides of
the field. If I were a forward and we lost the ball because I had no support from the backs, I know that I wouldn't enjoy hearing them complaining because we couldn't keep the ball or get a scoring opportunity. Likewise, if I were a back and was constantly having to defend because the forwards wouldn't help defend, then I would be quite annoyed.

The teams that attack as a team and defend as a team are usually more effective.

Next weeks Soccer Newsletter is about the try out process. If you know of any players or coaches who will be going through this soon, you might want to suggest that they 
subscribe since it will deal with both sides of the tryout process. To subscribe, send a blank email to soccernewsletter-subscribe@egroups.com

Remember that all previous newsletters are archived at http://finesoccer.com . Also the new FineSoccer Drills newsletter was started this week and I have received some very positive comments about it. Check that out as well.

Any questions, comments or suggestions should be sent to comments@finesoccer.com or post them to http://finesoccer.com/forum.htm

Have a great day

Lawrence