BASIC TECHNIQUE & KNOWLEDGE CHECKLIST

FIELD PLAYERS

• Kicking with both feet: inside, power and laces    
• Receiving on the ground with inside and outside of both feet    
• First touch away from defender with inside and outside of both feet    
• Heading straight on: with feet on ground and jumping up    
• Controlling ball out of the air to feet with chest, thighs, bottom of feet and laces    
• Volley pass, shot or clear with inside of feet and laces    
• Dribbling: inside only (every step a dribble), outside only, inside outside combination (switching feet), speed dribbling using laces    
• Reverse moves (outside cut, step on, inside pull through)    
• Moves: scissors, step over, Cruyff, step over pull through    
• Lateral cut move with outside of foot to create space for pass or shot    
• Shielding position when winning and possessing the ball    
• Defensive position for containing    
• Tackling positioning and technique    
• Where every position marks defensively    
• Understand concept of recovering defensively at every position    
• Where every position moves on the attack    
• Understand concept of support from in front, the side and behind    
• Where every position sets up on goal kicks at both ends of the field    
• Where every position sets up for corner kicks at both ends of the field    
• Where every position moves on offensive corner kicks    
• Where every position sets up on free kicks offensively and defensively (including walls)   
• Where balls are to be kicked on set plays for corner kicks and free kicks    
• Where the ball is to be kicked on our goal kicks    
• Throw-in technique and rules    
• Throw-in strategy (including runs)    
• Offside rules    
• Rules about direct kick fouls (including penalty kick rules cause of PK and set-up rules)
• Rules about indirect kicks (including two touch before score)    
• Referee signals for direct and indirect kicks    
• Rules about ball position for out of bounds and goals   
• Kick-off rules and strategy    
• Communication when making run, covering the ball and attempting to win or possess the ball

GOALKEEPERS

• Three ready positions
• Catching low, medium and high balls
• Low dives to the side
• Low dive forward
• High dives to the side
• Punching with one or two hands
• Placement of distribution
• Positioning on corner kicks and free kicks
• How to set a wall
• Strategy for penalty kicks
• Timing cues for breakaways
• Communication for setting walls, defender marking and when going for ball

CONCEPTS OF SOCCER

  Thirds of the field    

• Defensive 3rd (with our goal in it)
  • NO RISKS
  • Collapse on goal all players move in closer to protect, particularly middle
  • No dribbling just possess/control and CLEAR
  • Once cleared, start to push up
• Middle 3rd
  • Low to medium risk
  • Maintain control but can dribble more
  • Low, safe passes
• Attacking 3rd (with their goal in it)
  • "GO FOR IT!"
  • TAKE THE SHOT
  • Try those "new moves"

   
Offense vs. defense

• We don't have offensive or defensive "positions".  We have forwards, mids & backs if
• We have the ball, we're ALL on OFFENSE; if they have the ball, we're ALL on DEFENSE

   
Principles of Defense    

"The teams that win are teams that defend!", e.g., OSU Buckeyes

• Pressure (1st Defender)  -   Prevent penetration and/or dispossess
  • Get close, fast;  Get their heads down;  DON'T GIVE THEM TIME
  • Be careful w/ tackles 2 of 3 possible results are bad (win ball, miss it, foul)
  • Don't "dive" for the ball - try to strip ball, 1 foot in air, off balance, out of play!
  • -  Keep feet on the ground.
  • Come in low (READY position) and angle them outwards
  • BUT, don't overrun the opponent if you do, you're effectively out of the battle
• Contain/Delay  -   Pressure, but less aggressive trying to slow them down until help arrives
  • Stay between 1st attacker and goal and slow their progress up the field
  • Particularly critical if you're last, or even next to last, defender
• Cover (2nd Defender)     Mark the man without the ball but be there as cover for your teammate who's pressuring
  • If 1st defender gets beat, it's your job to become 1st defender!
  • Don't chase the ball and abandon your position let 1st defender do his job
• Balance (3rd Defender)  -   Watches ALL of non-ball side of field and opponents on that side
  • Mark everybody/everything "off" ball
  • Can move instantly into Cover, if 1st def. gets beat and 2nd def. becomes 1st
  • If opponents "switch", can move to become 1st defender
  • Hardest to do too easy to get pulled into going after ball
• Compression   -  Move all players up the field as far as possible make space opponents are playing in
  • Smaller and more congested so can regain possession

   
Transition    

• You behave differently on OFFENSE than you do on DEFENSE when the ball changes "hands" (actually, feet), you have to instantly change mindsets!
• Whenever possible, defenders should run backwards (back pedal) so they can:
  • Maintain a full view of the field
  • Stay between ball and own goal

   
Offense OR Defense    

• ALWAYS know where everything is on the field (ball, teammates, opponents, goals, lines)
• NEVER turn your back on the ball!
• Whenever you pass/shoot, always FOLLOW your pass/shot!

   
Principles of Offense    

• "You can't score if you don't have the ball" (see Defense)
• Penetrate (1st Attacker - has the ball)     MOVE THE BALL UP THE FIELD
• -  Questions to ask, in this sequence:    
• Can I shoot?     If yes, then do it!
• Can I dribble forward or beat opponent?     If yes, then do it!  (go WIDE and then "switch" the ball or "cross" for a shot on goal)
• -  "beat" option is usually "1 v 1"
  
  • Try not to dribble right up the middle and/or try not to take on 2 or 3 opponents
• Can I pass?     If yes, then do it!  (probably most frequent, and best, option)
• -  If can't penetrate, POSSESS     Keep ball and reverse/spin to space
• -  Sometimes, best penetration is to DROP     Reverse direction, send ball backwards, create new opportunity to advance
• Support (2nd Attacker - w/out ball)   -  Can be several of these - goal is to be OPEN TO RECEIVE PASS by MAKING RUNS
• -  Scissors Run  -   Support runs between defender & teammate w/ ball defender has to choose
• -  Overlapping Run ("hold, hold")   -  Support runs around behind teammate, who passes as Support runs by other side
• -  Blind Run  -   Support runs behind defender & defender is briefly between 1st & 2nd attackers
• -  Wall pass (give and go, "One:Two")  -   Pass to teammate who immediately passes back to you as you make a run
• -  Take over ("leave it")  -   One player "leaves" ball for a teammate running towards him - we haven't taught this!
• When supporting, if too close, move away!  If too far, move closer!
• Mobility  -   MOVE get open (& receive "open" - receive ball across your body on "back" foot)
• Balance (3rd Attacker - also w/out ball)  -   Several of these, too - Not immediate target for pass but "Support for Support"!
  • Classic "shape" is DIAMOND - 1 up, 1 back and 2 out wide
  • All should be working to find, or be, the 3RD MAN
• Width  -   Use all space on the field to "spread the defense" - if clustered, easy to defend
• Control  -   Maintain POSSESSION!

   
    When "carrying" the ball, go WIDE and then switch or cross to the midd