The "Dummy" Run

A dummy run is a run made to try to draw the opponent one to one area while the ball is played to another.

To see an example, look at the diagram below



The player makes a near post run and the ball is played to his feet (or possibly directly behind him) and the runner steps over the ball and lets the ball go through (dummies the ball) to the player making the run behind them.

The "dummy" fakes like they are going to get the ball and this causes the defense to go with him while he is setting up the defense for the player making the run behind.

Dummying the ball requires communication between the two runners (sometimes verbal and othertimes non verbal) or else there is a lost opportunity in the attack.

The dummy run must be done sparingly for it to be effective.

Looping Runs

If the ball is on the far left side of the field and a runner is starting toward the middle of the field with a defender in front of him, if the space is available, it's in his best interests to make a looping run.

If the runner makes a straight run, it's easy for the defender to see the ball and the runner.

However, if the runner loops (or bends) his run, the defender will be forced to turn to see him and thus lose site of the ball.

The alternative to the defender losing site of the ball is they will lose site of the runner.

Either way, it puts the defender into a precarious situation as a good defender will try to always see the ball and the player they are marking.

The wider the looping run, the more difficult it is for the defender to bend the run out wide and see how many goal scoring situations you can get into.

Under 12 Drill - "Movement Off The Ball"

Begin with a player out wide with the ball, a player in the middle and a player on the far side. There is one keeper in goal and an opponent marking the far player.

The runner would read the one hole run and make a hard diagonal run in front of the defender. The central attacker would fill this space.

The player with the ball can either lead the diagonal runner with the ball or drive the ball to the bent runner.

The defender starts by overplaying one of the runs to make it easier for the player with the ball to read the situation but quickly, this changes to the defender being live and the player on the ball having to make the correct read each time. Next, add a second defender.

The player with the ball can now either play the ball to the diagonal runner, play the ball to the looping runner or, if the defenders take away those two runs, can dribble to goal and shoot.

The key to this activity is it's not a 3 v 2 scrimmage but rather, a given situation being recreated so players can learn to read space, read runs and make appropriate passes.

It's important for all players to get the opportunity to play each of the roles because not only might they find themselves in the position to make certain runs, they also will understand how to defend them if they understand the mentality of the attackers.

If you have a team of 17 players, you could have 3 players in each line, plus two keepers and if done at speed, the players will be sprinting to the next line in order to get there in time for their turn.

Coaching Transition

Last month, during the Euro 2008 tournament, there were some great examples of goals scored in transition. From extremes such as balls being cleared off the goal line that resulted in a goal in the far goal 17 seconds later, to teams being dispossessed in their attacking third and being scored on 15 seconds later.

In each case, the goal resulted from a player receiving the ball (either from dispossessing the opponent or receiving an outlet pass from a teammate) and carrying the ball forward while one or more teammates made hard runs off the ball.

While it takes skill and some speed to carry the ball, usually under pressure, as the first attacker, in most of the cases, the goal resulted from the players off the ball willing to make the commitment to make those runs.

In many cases, when a team wins the ball, they relax and take a deep breath, having survived the opponents attack. The teams that are successful in attack are the ones who have the determination to get forward and realize that transition, whether from offense to defense or defense to offense is not the time to relax.

Regardless of age, coaches must instill in players the idea of moving forward (to score) when their team has the ball and the idea of moving back (to defend) when they lose the ball. In Under 6 ball, this is not hard because it is 3v3 and if a coach encourages players to always go for the ball, then they will always be transition in one way or another towards their or the opponents goal. In Under 8 ball, players start to lose their willingness to transition, because at this age coaches start saying stupid things like "You're a Defender! Stay put!" Guess what coaches, when your team doesn't have the ball - YOUR ENTIRE TEAM ARE DEFENDERS!! Also telling a player to stay put is going to result in players that stand and wait for the ball to come to them instead of going to get the ball or being in a place where the ball may come to later.

Transition is about movement, players need to be moving to have transition. If they are not moving, you will not have transition. So not only do players need to be in motion, their coaches must encourage that movement at an early age so they perfect it as they grow.

Backyard Activities - "Kicking (Wall) Tennis and Squash"

Backyard Activities are drills that a player can do at home with a sibling, a friend, Mom, or Dad.

Activity - "KICKING (WALL) TENNIS AND SQUASH"

If you have access to a wall that you can kick your soccer ball against and your parents permission, consider the following soccer activities:


Tennis: Volley your ball against the wall with one or two bounces in between each volley. Eventually, keep the ball going with only one bounce in between volleys. Vary your distance from the wall as you play. See how many times you can keep the ball going as you move closer to and farther from the wall. Use different surfaces of your foot and develop a rhythm.

Set up a rectangular court out from the wall and play soccer tennis against the wall with a friend. Set up your own rules with regards to services and bounces, etc.

Squash: This game is played with more than one player. You can set up a rectangular court or play in an open area.

After a kicking order has been determined, the player #1 kicks the ball off the wall. The player #2 must get to the ball before it stops and immediately kick (1-touch) the ball against the wall. If there are more than 2 players, the game proceeds accordingly until all the players have kicked the ball against the wall, at which time the first player is up again. You get a point if the player that follows you allows the ball to stop before she kicks it or if she misses the wall on her kick. Play begins with the next player in the order striking the ball against the wall.

This is a great game for scheming (strategy)…putting the right pace on the ball so that it barely moves after hitting the wall or rebounds off the wall with great speed. Passing angles become a strategic threat in this game as well.

On An Island - Surviving the One-v-One Battle

From US Soccer -

What goes through a defender's mind during the moment when it becomes mano-y-mano?

Every defender has experienced it. The moment that an attacking player breaks through the midfield and is running unimpeded towards the back line. You are the last one standing between the attacker and the goal. Maybe you’ve got cover, but maybe not. It’s up to the defender to stop, slow down or otherwise block the opponent from getting the ball near the net. What goes through a defender’s mind during the moment when it becomes mano-y-mano? During a week when the USA is preparing to face some of the best dribblers in the world – the Brazilian National Team -- we asked several of the U.S. defenders, who are among the best in the world at one-v-one defending, what they are thinking during those moments…or are they are thinking at all?

In a soccer game, if an attacking team is going to create the desired chaos in the opponent’s penalty area, at some point, someone on the offense will have to put someone else behind them on the dribble. As a defender, if you get beat, this means trouble for your team and a goal scoring chance for the opponent.

“There is a little bit of a frightening aspect to one-v-one defense,” said U.S. defender Cat Whitehill when asked how it feels to be the last player standing on the backline. “As a central defender you are used to having cover so you think to yourself ‘Wait, I am the last one here,’ but you just go back and do what you know. You move your feet, get them to a place where they are more predicable and push them to a place where first, they can’t shoot and second, where you delay them so your defenders can recover and support you.”

One-v-one defense invariably adds an extra sense of pressure and responsibility for any defensive player. An additional drop of sweat rolls done the forehead when a world-class striker is steamrolling down the field, coming unopposed with plans to knock the ball into the back of the net. When Christie Rampone, who during her163 caps for the USA has played both on the flank and in the middle, is faced with such a situation, she suggests with a sort of cool confidence. Simply stay relaxed.

“I just stay calm, patient, and let the attacker give me the ball,” said Rampone.

But how does one get the attacker to make the mistake and just cough up the ball? It takes time to master the craft as effective defending, perhaps in part the product of being impatient and getting skinned on numerous occasions. Veteran WNT defenders say the biggest mistake young players make when going one-v-one is stabbing at the ball.

Skilled defensive players will delay an oncoming attacker and then, if necessary, indulge themselves in a satisfying tackle once the striker has been properly pressured into a breaking point. For a defender, immense gratification arises from imposing personal defeat on a forward. It means you have won your individual battle, for now.

Whitehill also believes that you must have the physical qualities as well to ensure a proper one-v-one shut down.

“You have to be quick, agile, and have good anticipation,” said Whitehill, who has played more than 100 times for the USA. “You must have quick recovery in case you do get beat the first time so you can get back. You need grit. You need heart. If you are stabbing at the ball a lot, you are going to get beat a lot.”

If an attacker gets within shooting range, an internal alarm goes off in all good defenders. Once at the 18-yard line, an attacker creates the added incentive for a defender to finally go in and make the tackle. The threat of a powerhouse forward hammering the ball towards your goal is enough to get any defender to reach in for a winning touch.

Rampone finds that while slowing an attacker down is a good bet when waiting for cover, it’s not the most important factor when a shooter is in scoring range.

“When I see the forwards eyes go down and she is almost losing control or ready to shoot, I’ll go in for the tackle,” she said. “If she is in shooting range you have to go in and make the tackle. You don’t have time to wait for cover.”

A communication break down on the backline can also cause havoc, and for an attacking player, a rare look at the U.S. net. Defender, India Trotter, describes the backline as being attached by a long string. The pull of one player affects another, causing them to offer cover. If that string is broken, and only one defender is left alone to obstruct an attacker’s opportunity, danger ensues. When asked about the importance of communication on the backline, all WNT defenders respond similarly, saying that communication is, well…everything. One-v-one encounters are the more likely when exhaustion hits its peak and focus and concentration waver.

“Communication plays the biggest role, especially for a zone defense,” said Rampone. “If we are getting overwhelmed and tired in the back, that is when communication tends to stop and that is just when it is the most important.”

In the end, it is much easier to destroy than create, but the sad truth about defending is that you can destroy 25 attacks in a row, but if you get beaten on that 26th dribble, and the opponent scores, it can be the difference in a game.

The U.S. players know this, they embrace this, and even thought they are often overlooked on a team of dynamic scorers, one look up at the scoreboard at the end of the game with a big “0” flashing next to the other team’s name, is all they need.

How to Defend - The 2nd Defender

As stated in earlier posts, the role of the 1st Defender is to pressure the player with the ball. The role of the 2nd Defender is to provide coverage. The 2nd Defender can cover for a pass or cover if the 1st Defender is beaten and then quickly become the new 1st Defender.

And as always remember, if your team doesn't have the ball - THEN YOU ARE ALL DEFENDERS!!!

How To Defend - The 1st Defender

The moment that your team loses control of the soccer ball, EVERYONE on your team is a DEFENDER. The closest team member to the ball is the 1st Defender. So how should this 1st Defender play? Below is a video from US Youth Soccer showing the keys of the 1st Defender role and how they can win the ball back or prevent further penetration by the other team. This is both a technical and tactical skill.

1st, 2nd, and 3rd Defender Principles and Roles

Good defending begins with an understanding of how the principles of defense are applied by both the individual player as well as collectively within the team. The moment a team loses possession of the ball, an immediate organization of winning it back begins.

• Immediate Chase - The moment possession is lost to the other team, the nearest player(s) work to regain possession or apply pressure on the ball. These players are considered the 1st Defenders, because they have the first chance to win the ball back. Players giving immediate chase can also help to delay the attack by making recovery runs that deny the opponent the opportunity to play the ball quickly forward.
• Delay - The pressuring defender(s) forces the attacking team to slow down so that the rest of the team can organize the defense. While applying pressure the defender must be careful to not over-commit. If he/she is beaten easily the time for the team to organize is shortened.
• Depth - This refers to the immediate organization of players behind the pressuring defender. While the ball is being pressured all other players should be recovering into defensive positions. The positions taken should support the pressuring defender in the event he is beaten. This is called providing defensive cover.
• Balance - As the team concentrates their defense in the area of the ball, defenders away from the ball (opposite side of field) must position themselves to cover vital spaces (central areas) in order to prevent attackers from making penetrating runs into these spaces in which to receive the ball for an attempt on goal. All players who are on the opposite side must seek positions in which to provide balance to the defense.
  
• Concentration - As players recover towards their own goal and organize their defense, the objective is to limit the time and space for the opponent by concentrating their defense in the area of the ball. Defenders also recover centrally towards their goal in order to limit the opponents ability to directly attack the goal.
  
• Control and Restraint - Players must be disciplined and play "under control" when challenging for the ball. Too often players make poorly timed or off-balanced attempts to win the ball. Players should refrain from tackling until they are confident they will win the ball.
  

It is important for players to understand their role and function within the game as well as their position. While the team is defending, a player will assume the responsibility to provide pressure, cover, balance or depth.

A. Pressure (1st Defender - the closest player to the ball)

• Apply pressure to the ball to regain possession if possible
• Deny penetration of any kind
• Select proper angle of challenge
• Select proper speed of challenge

B. Cover (2nd Defender)

• Provide cover support for the 1st defender
• Select proper angle of support
• Should be a distance that the 2nd defender can tackle or immediately close down the attacker who has beaten the 1st defender (the 2nd defender needs to be ready to become the 1st defender if the attacker beats their teammate)
• Distance of support will vary with the third of the field and the amount of pressure on the ball
• Responsible for tracking supporting attackers who make forward runs

C. Balance (3rd Defenders or Everyone Else)

• Track attackers away from the area of the ball who are making forward runs
• Squeeze space towards center of the field to "lock up" vital areas
• Preserve balance/shape

D. Compactness (Everyone's job)

• Pressure, cover, and balance together provide depth of defense
• Organization of defending between the various lines, e.g., midfield and defending line
• Proper Positioning, spacing and number of defenders in area of the ball vital to maintain depth in defense

The key idea that all players must realize is that the moment the team loses possession of the ball, the ENTIRE TEAM BECOMES DEFENDERS.

One vs. One Is the MOST Common Situation

From Sam Snow, US Youth Soccer Director of Coaching Education -

One versus one (1v1) is the most common and frequent tactical situation for players. Every 1v1 situation involves all four components of the game; fitness, attitude, technique, and tactics. Further, no matter what position a player has on the team, he/she must be able to handle a one on one both offensively and defensively. One versus one is the foundation of all tactics, individual, group, and team. If players cannot win the majority of 1v1 duels on both offense and defense then the odds of effectively combining in group and team tactics are reduced.

One versus one battles take place on all parts of the field throughout the game. Some are only for a split second and some last several seconds. Some of these duels are obvious to neophyte observers where only two players are in the immediate vicinity of the ball. In most cases though, several players are near the ball during a 1v1. Many coaches do not recognize that a 1v1 is happening even if only for a moment. For example, in a 2v1 case, the first attacker must decide if he/she will pass to the second attacker or try to dribble past the opponent solo. Even though, there are three players around the ball, a 1v1 decision must be made by the first attacker. Since these confrontations take place across the field for the entire match all players must be able to defend and attack in a 1v1 to a reasonable degree.

In a 1v1, the two players are playing one of two roles. One is the first attacker, who either penetrates via shooting, dribbling, or passing or he/she maintains possession of the ball via shielding, dribbling or passing to a teammate. The other is the first defender who tries to deny penetration via interception of passes, one touch clearances, tackling, shepherding, jockeying, containing or tracking runs. He/she may also try to regain possession of the ball from the opponent or at least dispossess the opponent.

The defensive techniques required include; how to intercept passes, one touch clearances with the head or foot, how to jockey or shepherd the opponent with the ball, speed and angle of approach onto the opponent in possession, proper body posture, the poke tackle, the block tackle, four types of slide tackles, recovery runs and tracking runs.

The offensive techniques include dribbling to keep possession of the ball, dribbling to beat an opponent and a multitude of "moves" which can be used to accomplish either type of dribbling. Also required is being able to shield the ball, eight types of passes with the foot, passes with the head, chest or thigh, heading to score, crossing the ball and shooting with a plenitude of techniques.

To execute the techniques and to have a sharp mind to make these tactical decisions requires good physical fitness. The best way to get a player fit for 1v1 duels is to put them in those situations in training as opposed to running laps, doing jumping jacks, etc.

Learning how to dribble and to take on opponents begins with the under-8 teams. The initial coaching of how to play in a 1v1 on both offense and defense starts with the under-10 teams and is then continuously refined though out the player's career. Even World Cup teams work on how to play in various 1v1 predicaments.

Over years of proper training and refinement, players should learn how to handle 1v1 situations in all three thirds of the field. While defending, they must also learn that in the defensive third they handle 1v1 battles somewhat differently on the flanks than when in the center. The same is true when on the attack in the offensive third.

All of the above concerns field players, but clearly the goalkeeper must also deal with 1v1 occurrences too. The most obvious is when defending the goal. In a breakaway 1v1 situation the keeper tries to get the ball:

1. before the attacker by intercepting passes (through balls and crosses)
2. as the attacker is dribbling and shooting
3. after the attacker shoots (catching, blocking, kick saves, parrying, and boxing)

Unless your goalkeeper is Luis Chilavert, the offensive part of 1v1 for the keeper is limited to distribution via two or three types of throws and three types of kicks.

Performing well in a 1v1 for any player on both offense and defense requires a positive attitude. The players must feel confident that they know how to handle most situations. This means the coach must put the players into a variety of 1v1 opportunities at training sessions. To keep the learning of the same topic motivational over many years requires that coaches know how to teach 1v1 in various ways.

Since 1v1 is the foundation of all tactics it must be revisited time and time again.