08 Mar 2008 12:28:38 | Neil Stafford
Copyright Junior Soccer Coach 2004
http://www.juniorsoccercoach.com
Do your players know whether to show an opponent inside or
outside when they are defending?
You may want to consider this tactic when coaching your players.
There are two schools of thought on this; One says that your
defenders should show the opponents outside towards the
touchline.
The reason for this is that if your player does get beat then
the opponent will still have to get a cross in. Also, they
should be at a more acute angle to get a shot on target if they
have been successfully pushed outside.
The alternative to this is showing the opponents inside, towards
goal. If this is to be your style of play then the players need
to be organised so that there is strength inside. This can be a
risky tactic if players are not switched on or don't know where
to best position themselves.
Showing them inside would be a good tactic if you where playing
with five in defence with a good sweeper.
If your team lacks some direction on this tactic, then it will
be very difficult for them to get an organised shape and take a
position which is best suited to holding up or breaking down an
attack.
Both young and older players can be coached on this.
As players get older, and become more tactically aware &
proficient in defending techniques, they will be able to
influence the build up play and therefore your defensive line
can react, and adjust, by taking the lead off the first defender.
Build this simple tactic into some small sided games in training
and watch the beneficial results on match day!
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