US Soccer National Coaching Schools

Match Observation 1: Understanding The Phases of Play 2: Applications for Training

Dr. Tom Turner
1

Dr. Tom Turner

Playing Experience o Scotland Schoolboys (1975) o Glasgow Rangers Youth Team (1976-77) o Ayrshire Junior (Adult) League (1977-78) o Glasgow Rangers / Glasgow Celtic Reserves (1978) o Cleveland State University (1978-81) o Amateur Leagues (1978-1987) Coaching Experience / Soccer Administration Experience o High School (1984-87 / 1993-2000) o Amateur (1986-88) o Division 1 College (1997-92) o Region II Girls ODP Head Coach (1994-2004) o US Youth Soccer All-America Teams (2001 / 2005) o Region II Boys ODP Head Coach (2008- present) o OYSAN Director of Coaching (1993-present) o US Youth Soccer National Coaching Committee (2008-present) o US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional League ( 2002-2008) o US Youth Soccer National League (2007-present)

US Soccer Coaching Experience o Pan-American Games (1999) o National Sports Festival (1987) o US Soccer National Instructional Staff (1993-present) o US Youth Soccer National Instructional Staff (2002-present) Coaching Education o USSF National Youth License (2000) o USSF A License (1990) o NSCAA Advanced National Diploma (1987) Formal Education o B.Sc. Physical Education (1983) / B.A. Psychology (1983) o M.A. Curriculum & Instruction (1984) o Ph. D. Curriculum & Instruction (2001)

Phases of Play
Counter-Attacking Transitioning To Attack Building From The Defensive Half Defending Against The Counter-Attack Pressing Defending From Behind A Line Of Confrontation

Attacking
Building In The Attacking Half

Defending

Bunkering Defensive Restarts

4

Attacking Restarts

Phases of Play
Counter-Attacking
Transitioning To Attack Building From The Defensive Half Defending Against The Counter-Attack Pressing Defending From Behind A Line Of Confrontation

Attacking
Building In The Attacking Half

Defending

Bunkering Defensive Restarts

5

Attacking Restarts

Phases of Play
1. Follows a Positive Turn-Over

Counter-Attacking

2. Recovering Team Open: Time and Space Available to Attack. 3. Situation may be Numbers up, Numbers Even, or Numbers Down. 4. Technical Solutions can include both Passing and Dribbling. 5. Vision, Initiative and Urgency Required to Create Chances. 6. Organization of Team Behind the Counter is Important
6

Counter-Attacking

Counter-Attacking

Phases of Play
Counter-attacking Defending Against The Counter-attack Pressing Defending From Behind A Line Of Confrontation

Transitioning To Attack
Building From The Defensive Half

Attacking
Building In The Attacking Half

Defending

Bunkering Defensive Restarts

9

Attacking Restarts

Phases of Play
Transitioning To Attack
1. Space to Attack the Goal is Available. 2. Speed of Positive Play Increases. 3. May Follow a Positive Turn-Over (Counter-Attack); a Build-Up from the Defensive Half; or a Build-Up in the Attacking Half. 4. Any Player can Initiate an Attack. 5. Attacking Can Start in Either Half. 6. Can be Signaled by a Long Pass, a Penetrating Pass, a Series of Short Passes, a Dribble, or a Shot. 7. Organization of Team Behind the Counter is Important
10

Transitioning to Attack Flank Attack

11

Transitioning to Attack Beating An Offside Line

12

Transitioning to Attack Flank Attack

13

Transitioning to Attack Center Channel Combinations

14

Transitioning To Attack Playing to a Target

15

Phases of Play
Counter-attacking Transitioning To Attack Defending Against The Counter-attack Pressing Defending From Behind A Line Of Confrontation

Building From The Defensive Half

Attacking
Building In The Attacking Half

Defending
Bunkering Defensive Restarts
16

Attacking Restarts

Phases of Play
Building From The Defensive Half
1. Primary Objective is to Create Forward Passing or Dribbling Options. 2. Secondary Objective is to Create Time and Space to Organize the Team for the Build-up. 3. May or May Not Include the Goalkeeper. 4. Opponents May be Dropping Off or Pressing. (Tactical Cues) 5. May Include the Natural Involvement of the Back Line in Ball Circulation. 6. Can Change to Attacking at any Moment. 7. Definition of Roles and Creation of Space Critical to Success.
17

Building from the Defensive Half Purposeful Ball Circulation

18

Building from the Defensive Half Simple Build-up

19

Building from the Defensive Half Simple Build-up

20

Building from the Defensive Half Outside Defender in Attack

21

Building from the Defensive Half Outside Defender in Attack

22

Phases of Play
Counter-Attacking Transitioning To Attack Building From The Defensive Half Defending Against The Counter-Attack Pressing Defending From Behind A Line Of Confrontation

Attacking

Defending

Building In The Attacking Half

Attacking Restarts

Bunkering Defensive Restarts

23

Phases of Play
Building In The Attacking Half
1. Most Demanding Phase of Play: Most Possessions End in Failure! 2. Opponents may have Eleven Players Behind The Ball. 3. Individual Vision and Technical Range Challenged. 4. Premium on Individual and Collective Creativity. 5. Chances can be Created by Dribbling, Passing, Shooting, and Combining. 6. Changes of Pace More Important than Overall Speed of Play. 7. Movement of Off-Ball Players is a Critical Factor. 8. Ability to Create and Use Space is a Critical Factor.
24

Building in the Attacking Half

Most Possessions End in Failure!

25

Building in the Attacking Half

Center Channel Build-up

26

Building in the Attacking Half

Outside Midfielder in the Attack

27

Building in the Attacking Half

Center Chanel Build-up

28

Building in the Attacking Half

Center Chanel Build-up

29

Building in the Attacking Half

Outside Defender in the Attack

30

Phases of Play
Counter-attacking Transitioning To Attack Building From The Defensive Half Defending Against The Counter-attack Pressing Defending From Behind A Line Of Confrontation

Attacking
Building In The Attacking Half

Defending

Bunkering Defensive Restarts

31

Attacking Restarts

Phases of Play
Attacking Restarts
1. Third of the Field? 2. Team Philosophy by Third? 3. Possession vs Penetration? 4. Individual Roles during Buildup (non Goalscoring) Restarts? 5. Individual Roles during Attacking (Goalscoring) Restarts? 6. Organization of Team Behind Attacking Restarts?
32

Goalkeeper Possession

33

Goal Kicks

34

Corner Kicks

35

Free Kicks: Shooting

36

Free Kicks: Non-shooting

37

Throw-ins: Attacking Half

38

Throw-ins: Attacking Half

39

Throw-ins: Defending Half

40

Phases of Play
Counter-attacking Transitioning To Attack Building From The Defensive Half

Defending Against The Counter-attack

Pressing Defending From Behind A Line Of Confrontation

Attacking
Building In The Attacking Half

Defending

Bunkering Defensive Restarts

41

Attacking Restarts

Phases of Play
1. Immediate Role of Closest Defender(s): Slow the Attack! 2. Decision to Press or Drop Back based on Immediate Tactical Situation, Time, Score, and Overall Match Situation. 3. Re-organization of the Defensive Group and Block (#s) Critical to Overall Success. 4. Role of Back Line and the Goalkeeper in Defending Offside Space Also Important.
42

Defending Against The Counter-attack

Defending vs. Counter-Attack

43

Defending vs. Counter-Attack

44

Phases of Play
Counter-attacking Transitioning To Attack Building From The Defensive Half Defending Against The Counter-attack

Pressing
Defending From Behind A Line Of Confrontation

Attacking
Building In The Attacking Half

Defending

Bunkering Defensive Restarts

45

Attacking Restarts

Phases of Play
Pressing
1. Reading the Tactical Cues Critical for Success. 2. Block Moves Ball-ward. 3. Ball Winning vs. Channeling Play. 4. Contingency for Deeper Reorganization? 5. Use of Offside Space? 6. Goalkeepers Role?
46

Pressing Center

47

Pressing - Center

48

Pressing Flank

49

Phases of Play
Counter-attacking Transitioning To Attack Building From The Defensive Half Building In The Attacking Attacking Half Defending Against The Counter-attack Pressing

Defending From Behind A Line Of Confrontation

Defending
Bunkering Defensive Restarts
50

Attacking Restarts

Phases of Play
Defending From Behind A Line Of Confrontation
1. Why Drop Off? 2. When to Start Defending? 3. Move the Block Ball-ward. 4. Use of Offside Space? 5. Transition Shape in Attack?

51

Defending from Behind a High Line of Confrontation

52

Defending from Behind a Deep Line of Confrontation

53

Phases of Play
Counter-attacking Transitioning To Attack Building From The Defensive Half Defending Against The Counter-attack Pressing Defending From Behind A Line Of Confrontation

Attacking
Building In The Attacking Half

Defending

Bunkering
Defensive Restarts
54

Attacking Restarts

Phases of Play
Bunkering
1. Natural Phase of Play: Everyone Has to Bunker. 2. Time, Score, Match Situation, Team Quality Issues Determine Volume of Use. 3. Objective: Prevent Goal Chances (Primarily Shots and Crosses). 4. Clog Passing Lanes. 5. Track Runners. 6. Organize Defense Behind any Counters.
55

Bunkering (Unsuccessfully)

56

Bunkering (Successfully)

57

Phases of Play
Counter-attacking Transitioning To Attack Building From The Defensive Half Defending Against The Counter-attack Pressing Defending From Behind A Line Of Confrontation

Attacking
Building In The Attacking Half

Defending

Bunkering

Attacking Restarts

Defensive Restarts

58

Phases of Play
Defensive Restarts
1. Third of the Field? 2. Eliminate Easy Penetration Options. 3. Organize Defenders in Dangerous Attacking Spaces. 4. Individual Match-ups? 5. Preparation for CounterAttack: All 11 Back?

59

Goal Kicks

60

Goal Kicks

61

Corner Kicks
9 8

4 3 1 2

10 6 7 11
62

Free Kicks: Shooting

63

Free Kicks: Non-shooting

64

GK Possession: Pressing

65

Throw-ins: Defending Half

66

Throw-ins: Attacking Half

67

Part II Applications for Training

68

Applications for Training

Basic Issues #1: What is the Soccer Problem?

69

Applications for Training

Basic Issues #2: What is the System of Play?

70

Applications for Training

Practice Step #1: Technical Warm-up (1)

71

Applications for Training

Practice Step #1: Technical Warm-up (2)

72

Applications for Training

Practice Step #2: Isolating the Problem (1)
Determining the Field Space and Initial Numbers

73

Applications for Training

Practice Step #2: Isolating the Problem (2)
Determining the Field Space and Initial Numbers

74

Applications for Training

Practice Step #2: Isolating the Problem (3)
Determining the Field Space and Initial Numbers

75

Applications for Training

Basic Issues #3: The Start of Play (1)

76

Applications for Training

Basic Issues #3: The Start of Play (2)

77

Applications for Training

Basic Issues #4: The End of Play (1)

78

Applications for Training

Basic Issues #4: The End of Play (2)

79

Applications for Training

Practice Step #3: The Development of Realistic Numbers (1)

80

Applications for Training

Practice Step #3: The Development of Realistic Numbers (2)

81

Applications for Training

Practice Step #3: The Development of Realistic Numbers (3)

82

Applications for Training

Practice Step #4: The Expansion to Big Numbers

83

Applications for Training

Basic Issues #5: The Coaching Moments Immediate Breakdowns or Missing Principles?

84

Applications for Training

Basic Issues #6: Using The Coaches Toolkit To Create Better Flow

Coach the Individuals in the Flow Coaching the Group in the Flow Coach during Natural Stoppages Let Conditions Coach Use the Freeze Method

85