Soccer Tactical Training

Even world-class soccer squads can be beaten by lesser teams that employ intelligent tactics. In fact, this happens often at the professional and international levels. Teams employ game plans based on the skills and strengths of individual players. Tactics can include the number of players on offense or defense, whether defenders should play into the opposing ends of the field, and how often the ball should be played a long distance down the field and into the air.

  1. Formations

    • The most commonly known match formation is 4-4-2--four defenders, four midfielders and two forwards (plus one goalkeeper). In practice, however, teams commonly try out a variety of formations, including a 3-5-2, or layered midfield setups like a 3-2-2-1-2. This allows coaches to identify whether certain combinations of players work together well in different aspects of the game, such as building out of the back with a series of short passes or setting up a long through ball toward the opponent's goal.

    Ball Control

    • Even if a team opts for a long-ball style of play, all the players drill at passing and trapping the ball from short distances during practice sessions and just before the game. Every player, even goalkeepers, practice stopping the ball with their feet, knees, chest and head. One-touch precision passing without the use of a trap is also important. Being able to protect the ball and maintain possession is an essential tactic, especially if the team has to change strategies because its initial tactics are ineffective.

    Plan of Attack

    • Some teams prefer a patient buildup down the field with a series of short passes, slowly gauging individual matchups and feeling out the other team before trying a more daring play to get the ball centered deep in the opponent's' end and into a scoring position. Teams with speedy forwards and even defensive wing-backs use a counterattack strategy, in which they get the ball into the other team's end quickly after regaining possession. Teams with taller players, who can head the ball effectively, might employ a long-ball style, in which long crosses from the sideline area toward the goal are the main weapon. All these methods are tested in offense-versus-defense scrimmages.

    Defense

    • Inter-squad scrimmages are also effective for honing defensive tactics, such as pulling an offsides trap, in which the last defensive player makes a timely run up to midfield just as the opposing forward receives the ball behind him. In "3 vs. 2" drills, a common pregame warmup, two defenders are matched against three players, who pass the ball to each other in a small area. The defenders refine their ability to close down passing lanes between two opponents and double-team elusive forwards. According to ProfessionalSoccerCoaching.com, another effective defensive training method is to have a small-sided game (6 vs. 6 or 9 vs. 9, on a reduced field), in which the defensive players on one squad are given an objective, such as stopping any give-and-go plays that generate shots on goal or containing skilled ball handlers to the outside of the field.

    Set Pieces

    • It's a common complaint that teams at every level don't spend enough time practicing set pieces, such as corner kicks and free kicks after a foul. Set plays can be rehearsed to determine which players are best at taking shots, which are best at chipping it over the opponent's defense and which are best at pouncing on loose balls in the goalie box.