Choosing A Team Strategy
Every coach asks himself the question how he wants his team to play.
One of the first questions a coach should ask is: Which organization fits the team? There are roughly three options:
1:4:4:2, 1:3:5:2 and 1:4:3:3. Then, you must decide on what formation your team will play.
But Choosing a team strategy in that formation is not difficult, as there are only two choices with an occasional variation.
To play a counter attacking game or
a play making one (Built Up).
Each style has its own strengths and weaknesses;
each brings its own demands on the qualities needed by the players.
Counterattacking style. This style allows the opponents to carry the game forward. It is reactive. It is more dependent on guiding the opponents into making a mistake rather then forcing them. At the youth level this is very likely. It requires a high level of discipline and patience. It is not as effective when you are losing or the other team is incapable of carrying the game. It conserves energy but can lead into a lack of initiative.
Play-making style. This style aims to force the opponents into mistakes and is an attempt to control the atmosphere and pace of the game. It is proactive. It appeals to players that have a high level of self-confidence and talent. It demands a very high work rate, excellent technique, good team insight and communication. It is the hardest of the two styles to master.
When a team strategy has been selected the coach needs to decide what organizational form, (formation) is best in order to achieve the style. There are several limitations on the form notably the individual qualities of the players and the culture that the team will compete in. However, in modern soccer there are three basic forms: 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 3-4-3, 3-5-2 with some variations. Like choosing a style, each form has its own strengths and weaknesses.
Two teams can employ the same form yet appear to be playing two different games. This will be due to the individual differences in the players and their instructions. These differences will become more apparent inside the three team functions. "Basically it is all about how the players are positioned on the field and how many players play in defense, the buildup and the attack." This is not the same as how many players are in each line. It is more about the dispersal of tasks among the team and the qualities of the individual players.
Team Functions
Three are three functions within the team building process - defending, building-up and attacking -
Defending team function has the highest priority when creating the correct balance in the team." The "anti-football" is the easiest to organize and can bring the quickest results. "You need to control the opponent if you want to play an attacking style football!"
The point where you win the ball is the point where you begin your attacks.
Building-up. Once a team has won the ball what will it do. While this is dependent on a number of factors decisions are necessary. Do you play the ball through the midfield or bypass them with the long pass? Does the team have a "playmaker" that will take the responsibility or is it every man for himself? Will the team exploit space on the flanks or through the center? If the team has a plan on how to buildup it's attacks greater coordination and team efficiency will be possible.
When a team wins the ball they immediately counter attack if the opponent is unorganized. If the opponent is organized than the team must buildup its attack. The buildup can be graded by assigning a value to each pass. The higher number the higher the value to the team. Players should look for the highest value pass that they can make at any given time, unless the team is attempting to keep possession for possessions sake, i.e. run out the clock.Maintain possession. Do not give the ball back to the opponents. Play safe to supporting players.
Buildup the attack, preparation. Find space to exploit inside of or between the opponents lines. Pass the ball forward to put opponents out of the game but do not lose possession.
Penetration. Cross, play a through pass or dribble to set up a shot. The final step before the shot. Possession can be put at risk but look for quality chances and opportunities. Calculate on the side of risk, but calculate! The shot or finish. A goal, corner, goal kick, blocked shot or keepers save is the result. The team must work together to get to this stage.
If a player has the opportunity to play to #3 pass but instead plays the #1 he/she has played poorly. Likewise, if they play to #2 and lose possession than they should have played to #1. Youth players tend to be too optimistic and think that every pass they make is to #3, the game winner. Patience must be learned the hard way and takes a long time.
Attacking. How will the team finish it's work? Who will be the "go to" player and how will the team get to him? Is there a weakness in the opposition’s defense? A strength that the team can take advantage of? Opportunism around the penalty area is fine, but a plan is better.
Team strategy, organizational form and the three team functions can all be adjusted during a match. A counter attacking team can take the initiative if they are behind and a team can choose to alter its planned build up if the opponents have countered it. But in many youth games the mentality never changes. The defensive function is to win the ball as an individual at the expense of the team structure and immediately switch to attack. There is often no thought to building up the play, you simply get forward. This produces an exciting high paced game based on opportunism. Unfortunately, a steady diet of this dulls the insight until the players are incapable of reading the most elementary soccer problems. By increments it builds an illiterate soccer mentality. Cholesterol for the soccer brain!