Reply to The Development years - Direct (Kickball) versus Possession Style

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Direct soccer is [i]not[/i] the same as kickball. Kickball is simply kicking the ball forward to advance it with no real intent on getting the ball to a certain teammate. We can all agree the pure kickball is a poor approach unless completely outmatched and the team is simply fighting for its life. Even then it would be better to attempt to play good soccer.

Direct soccer is a conscious tactic to swiftly but accurately positively penetrate the other team’s defense causing a breakdown or numbers mismatch and therefore a scoring opportunity. Direct soccer tactics are great and when mixed with possession soccer create superior results. Just ask Liverpool and France. Too much possession stagnates an offense (see Germany’s performance in 2018 WC and Japan women’s recent performance against Argentina).  Too much direct soccer spreads your own defense thin leading to counter attack opportunities. They must be balanced and taught consistently by coaches including the subtle art of understanding when to possess and when to be direct. [/quote]

Thank you.  All of these people talking about kickball, but misunderstanding actual tactics of playing direct.[/quote]

But again, direct play is not something that should be prioritized at any of the youngest age groups.  The focus on results and direct play at the young ages is why we have "top" players unable to do the basics like passing and trapping accurately to the correct foot, with the correct foot and with the body in the correct position.  Those are the intricacies that are not taught here and kids at U9 are definitely capable of starting to learn these things so that they become engrained in them as players.  [/quote]

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