Any soccer gurus or coaches?

[moose1619]

I need some help with drills to help my team maintain proper shape in a 4-4-2 formation. Any help???

[Matt10]

Re: Any soccer gurus or coaches?

What's the issue? I'm working on my national license and played semi-pro/college.

[moose1619]

Re: Any soccer gurus or coaches?

Well I am no guru, I know the basics of the game, but I have not kept up much in the last 4 years. My team had our first scrimmage and asside from needing more work on the basics we didn't maintain shape at all. I need to get my midfielders and wings playing together as a unit, right now they are not.

[Maxattax3]

Re: Any soccer gurus or coaches?

Well I am no guru, I know the basics of the game, but I have not kept up much in the last 4 years. My team had our first scrimmage and asside from needing more work on the basics we didn't maintain shape at all. I need to get my midfielders and wings playing together as a unit, right now they are not.

have them stay in the formation and just pass to each other without moving for a long long time lol. show them how the ball moves from goal to goal with little individual movement.

a huge problem with American soccer is the mentality. Remind your forwards that you dont always have to run toward to the goal to attack. remind the forwards to check TO the ball (backward) when the midfielders have it and are being pressured.

If you are having issues on offense with the 4-4-2, and you have at least one kid who is a stud, I'd run the 4-3-3 and put your stud at center mid.

[Matt10]

Re: Any soccer gurus or coaches?

Shape usually breaks down when making the transition of a quick attack to defending (i.e. losing the ball due to a bad pass). I always make sure I designate a "talker" in the midfield (usually CM) and a talker of the two forwards.

I'm not sure on your age group, but the most success I have seen for maintaining shape is based on where the ball is on the attack. For example if you have the ball on the left midifield touchline, the opposite forward runs diagonally across (thus creating space and "chaos" for flat footed defenders) - and the other forward runs diagonally the other way (basically they switch spots). This is also a great compliment to beating an offside trap.

What this attack does, it allows your attackers to move into space, but in the event the ball is lost - you still have them in the proper location to defend, their roles are switched. This can also be done with the central midfielders as well.

I would say try that out (if you haven't already) and see how it works, if anything it's a positive to promote off-ball movement, thus showing some cohesion and teamwork.

[Matt10]

Re: Any soccer gurus or coaches?

a huge problem with American soccer is the mentality. Remind your forwards that you dont always have to run toward to the goal to attack. remind the forwards to check TO the ball (backward) when the midfielders have it and are being pressured.

Oi - reminds me of the annoyance that was my late night co-ed game last night...ugh.

[moose1619]

Re: Any soccer gurus or coaches?

This is a Varsity Team, ages 16 to 18. This is the first year of Varsity Soccer and we have been working a lot of skill drills, passing, dribbling, give and go's, weaving, etc. Right now we have so many weaknesses, but I think our greatest is shape. Our second scrimmage is tonight so hopefully we can continue to improve in that area and wednesday and thursday continue to focus on shape and attacking and defending while staying in shape. Our First official game is Friday so hopefully we will get better.

[Maxattax3]

Re: Any soccer gurus or coaches?

This is a Varsity Team, ages 16 to 18. This is the first year of Varsity Soccer and we have been working a lot of skill drills, passing, dribbling, give and go's, weaving, etc. Right now we have so many weaknesses, but I think our greatest is shape. Our second scrimmage is tonight so hopefully we can continue to improve in that area and wednesday and thursday continue to focus on shape and attacking and defending while staying in shape. Our First official game is Friday so hopefully we will get better.

good luck man. Keep us updated. I played HS soccer and our team was a train-wreck. If I could go back and coach that team I'd make sure everyone knew their responsibilities... and we'd do nothing but fundamental drills... mainly passing/trapping.

[mgoblue]

Re: Any soccer gurus or coaches?

This is a Varsity Team, ages 16 to 18. This is the first year of Varsity Soccer and we have been working a lot of skill drills, passing, dribbling, give and go's, weaving, etc. Right now we have so many weaknesses, but I think our greatest is shape. Our second scrimmage is tonight so hopefully we can continue to improve in that area and wednesday and thursday continue to focus on shape and attacking and defending while staying in shape. Our First official game is Friday so hopefully we will get better.

How are they losing the shape? Wings coming in? Forwards moving up too far? Forwards not coming back to help?

Are you trying to run more through the middle of the field or are your wing midfielders more the focal point?

Not a coach, but just interested in learning more about this type of stuff myself and just happened to be the thoughts that crossed my mind.

[moose1619]

Re: Any soccer gurus or coaches?

How are they losing the shape? Wings coming in? Forwards moving up too far? Forwards not coming back to help?

Are you trying to run more through the middle of the field or are your wing midfielders more the focal point?

Not a coach, but just interested in learning more about this type of stuff myself and just happened to be the thoughts that crossed my mind.

I am trying to make my wing midfielders more my focal point. My center mids are getting out of position and when we win the ball or the ball is played in the middle of field I have no one there. I also get a lot of kids watching when the ball is away from them, especially far side wing.

[N51_rob]

Re: Any soccer gurus or coaches?

I have this problem, too. I just continue to teach proper position and proper movement with and with out the ball. You may also want to take a "walk-through" approach. Slow things down and show exactly what you want, place the ball at someones foot at a certain spot on the field, and direct them and the team to get the ball to another spot.

This will be my 3rd year of coaching girls soccer and the first year was trying 4-8, This past season (soccer is a fall sport in MD) we were 5-4-3 which is only one more win, but it is a winning record. That was on JV and the AD has mentioned that the parents and boosters have mentioned me taking over the Girls Varsity, just keep working and teaching it the way you want it done and it will start to pay off.

[moose1619]

Re: Any soccer gurus or coaches?

well things did not go so well last night. My JV showed lots of improvement and only lost 2-0. My Varisty scored first, we where only down 3-1 at half, but then the wheels fell of and we lost 9-1. Again we struggled in the middle as a unit and the middle of our defense suffered. We where constantly under presure and being attacked 6 v 4. Right now I am thinking a 4-4-2 is not ideal and will look into seeing if there is a better system for us. Whats bad is we are young, starting 2 sophs, 7 jrs and 2 srs. Our skill level is really JV and I have only about 3 or 4 true players. Oh well just keep plugging away.

[Maxattax3]

Re: Any soccer gurus or coaches?

Try the 4-3-3. Got to have an awesome center mid though.

Try scrimmaging JV vs. Varsity with one running the 4-3-3.

Edit: there is also the 4-5-1 if you are having midfield issues

[Matt10]

Re: Any soccer gurus or coaches?

Even moving positional players from their "ideal" spot would help. I have seen great center backs become the best forwards. Try anything, see who your most athletic player is - and play them in the backfield. See who your biggest player is, put him up top to hold the ball.

I like the idea of 4-5-1 too just because it should shore up your defense considerably - combine that with the positional changes, and you've got some "tweaking" accomplished.

[moose1619]

Re: Any soccer gurus or coaches?

Took a 6-2 loss last night to a very good team from our area. The kids seemed to respond well to the things we were trying to do. We had a lot more shots on goal, just didn't get enough to fall in. Still having breakdown in the middle of the defense that i am trying to correct. Offensivily we played our best game and moved the ball better. The team we played has been in the playoffs 20 straight years and one numerous district championships. With this being our first year i was pleased, but we still have a long way to go.