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

Forum Index » Soccer

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

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]In a way, yes. Although balance is needed. Playing out the back and possession/position play is designed to bait the opponent into pressing higher up, which opens up space behind the defensive bloc and between the lines so you can make second and third level passes. Not so much kickball, but accurate long passes with a purpose. Of course the foundation for everything comes out of technical proficiency and an understanding of why you are doing things. It’s cause-effect and using the ball as a tool to move the opponent and creating/closing down the space they might move into/away from. If the opponent doesn’t press up, then you can remain patient, maintain control and switch the POA to create penetration, once again manipulate the space/opponent and create scoring chances, assisting the assist or getting advanced area actions (penetration).[/quote]

Correct. That is the balanced approach and it requires decision making. Good post. The other posters that don’t understand this, simply never will. They will cling to their pure possession style of play and their kids will be worse off for it. Possession is great, as is direct. Teach, learn, and use both. [/quote]

What that poster just described IS possession soccer.  If possession-based teams are not playing that way, they aren't doing it right (which could be normal/ok depending on where they are in the learning process).  That could have been written to describe exactly how every one of Pep's teams play.  If you think that's because he is "balanced" between direct and possession soccer, you haven't been paying attention.  It is always about creating and attacking space.  Play out of the back (or play back during the run of play instead of going forward into pressure), to draw the defense in.  If their forwards press but their defenders don't push up, there will be space for the midfielders between the lines.  If their whole team moves up in a high press, there will be space behind their back line - and that's the pass that should be played.

When a team that is trying to play possession is unable to do that, it is often because they lack the passing range.  Another issue is midfielders "checking in", without getting on the 1/2 turn, so they can't see the forward passing options, and they end up playing back when they shouldn't have.  So the team just broke pressure, didn't realize it, and puts themselves under pressure again.

Here are some better clues to tell whether a team is playing possession or direct.

1. When the GK gets the ball (either on a GK or during run of play), does the back line immediately get in shape to provide options to play short (CBs dropping deep and opening up, FBs getting wide and pushing up), or do they just stand there, waiting for the ball to be blasted over their heads?  Do the CMFs look to get open and receive the ball, or do they just stand there, waiting for the ball to go long or wide, because they and the whole team have been taught it's wrong to pass "up the middle"?

2.  Long balls over the top or through gaps for a fast forward to run onto to exploit the space behind a high defensive line = good possession soccer.  Long 50-50 balls with an emphasis on winning the 2nd ball = going direct.

3.  Does the team try to pass their way out of and around/through pressure, even in their own defensive 3rd, or do the defenders reflexively clear it in these situations, and how does the coach respond when they do?

4.  Exploiting space in wide areas and looking to pick out runners in the box = good possession based soccer.  Calling for "service" into the box - just "putting it into the mixer" - even when the other team has a numerical advantage - is the essence of direct play.

That's a start anyway.

[/quote]

This is going to be WAYYYYYYY over the heads of some of the self-proclaimed genius dads here.

For number 3, hearing teams scream “get it out” all game long is a team that has not been taught to deal with pressure and create numerical advantages precisely due to that pressure.

The middle of the field, especially in the attacking end is virtually ignored by all but few teams at all levels in this country with the ball sent wide only to be crossed in on a hope and a prayer over and over all game long.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics