Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Son plays forward and was a top scorer last season. Coach mentioned one of his strengths is “workrate”, and one of his weaknesses was “runs off the ball”. Can someone explain it in a way more understandable? Thx

In soccer, "runs off the ball" refers to the movement of players without possession of the ball to create space, offer passing options, or disrupt the opponent's defensive organization. These runs are strategic and often key to effective attacking play.

Examples of "runs off the ball" include:

Decoy Runs: A player moves to draw defenders away, creating space for teammates.
Overlapping Runs: A player runs around a teammate to offer width or support, often seen with full-backs overlapping wingers.
Diagonal Runs: A player cuts diagonally across the field to receive a pass or exploit gaps in the defense.
Penetrative Runs: A player sprints into a forward position to get behind the defensive line for a potential goal-scoring opportunity.

Good off-the-ball movement is a sign of tactical awareness and is crucial for breaking down organized defenses.

Thank you so much! I feel I know nothing about soccer even after watching my son play for 10+ years! Hahaha

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not just ask the coach directly?

I will when I see him, but practices have been canceled for a while and I don’t want to text him for such trivial things