How to Coach the Offside Trap in Soccer

The offside trap is a useful, but controversial, weapon in any team's defensive armory. It must be supremely coordinated and trained before it becomes effective. The offside trap uses makes use of Law 11, which states that a player is offside if less than two defending players are between an attacker and the goal line at the moment the ball is played.

Things You'll Need

  • Cones
  • Goals
  • Pinnies
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Instructions

    • 1

      Ensure that players understand the offside law. Understanding the offside law is vital to players being able to pull the trap. Once players understand why attacking players can be offside, they will have a greater understanding of why the trap is so successful.

    • 2

      Designate a defensive leader to coordinate the trap. This person is responsible for making the call for the defensive line to step forward and catch opposition attackers offside. If your system uses a sweeper, this player will be the one who both steps forward and makes the call. If your system is a zonal back three or back four, one player, usually a central defender, will need to be the person who makes the call.

    • 3

      Play lots of attack versus defense games. Use three quarters of the field, and play the attacking players against the defensive players. Have defensive or central midfielders on the defending team. It is vital to have pressure on the ball as a trigger to spring the trap. If there is no pressure on the ball, the trap becomes less effective. Have the attackers score as normal, while the defending team score for every successful offside decision they get.

    • 4

      Coach one midfield player to play as a counter runner. This player runs towards the defensive line during the execution of the trap. This ensures that if the trap fails, either through bad communication, officiating or coordination, that there is at least one defending player running with the ball in order to offset the trap's failure. This counter runner should be a defensive or central midfield player.

    • 5

      Play an 11v11 scrimmage with full field rules, in order to perfect the trap in a real environment. This will prepare the players for utilizing the tactic in the real game under real conditions. Ensure good communication, decisiveness and teamwork in order to get the best result out of the tactic.