High school soccer can be a difficult nut to crack. Often times, coaches are teachers or members of the community who have not played the game. That is part of the reason why there is such a large gap in talent between the first place team and last place teams in many divisions across the country. However, if a team can harness the power and technique of attacking they will be much more successful despite their ranking.
Attacking is an art. It is not just playing the ball down the field and hoping that the forwards can out-run the opposing team’s defenders. There is a true technique that, if followed, will provide a team with numerous chances in on goal.
Typically, in the high school game of soccer there are two types of defenses, the low-pressure defense and the high-pressure defense. The low-pressure defense is when the opposing team keeps all players behind the ball at all times and remains within their own half of the field. They play soft defense and wait for the attackers to come to them, their hope being that the attacking team will play a bad ball or fumble with a move. They then rely on their own counter-attack to score goals.
Attacking a Low Pressure Defense
When playing against a low-pressure defense it is difficult to play through the middle of the field and use the center mid-fielders going vertically. Instead of trying to play the ball through the defense it is best to go around. This can be done in several ways:
1. The first way to break the defense down is by swinging the ball from the outside midfielder on one side through the center midfielder and back to the outside midfielder on the opposite side. This will create gaps in the defense as they attempt to remain in their defense shape and stay behind the ball. When these gaps are created the forwards for the attacking team will be able to show for the ball in these holes and receive a pass with little pressure. If the defense closes, the ball can easily be played back out, but if they are slow to recover the forward can turn and take a shot on goal or look to pass.
2. The second way to break the defense down is by remaining on the outside flanks of the field. If the attacking team is good at winning balls in the air, then this might just be the best option. Once the ball is swung out to a flank to the outside midfielder they must take the outside defender on and try to take the ball to the goal line. Once at the goal line they should look to play the ball back in to the 18-yard box on the ground or in the air. By doing so, the attacking team can bypass the middle of the field, and the center midfielders will still remain involved as they make runs into the 18-yard box.
Attacking a High Pressure Defense
If a team is playing high-pressure defense, there are different options for attacking this formation. High-pressure defense includes the entire team providing pressure with every pass. Typically the forwards and midfielders will provide pressure in the offensive zone and will not always sit back behind the ball. This allows the team to win the ball closer to goal and not have to travel as far of a distance to score. When a team plays high pressure defense it is much easier for the attacking team to move the ball and get to goal, but they must be quick.
1. The first way to attack a high pressure defense is by moving the ball quickly to all sides of the field and taking advantage of the gaps that the defensive team leaves. Attacking through the middle will now be available and when the center midfielders receive the ball they should look to take their space and advance the ball down the field. The gaps should be available for the forwards to make runs into without as much effort.
2. A team that plays a high-pressure defense is also susceptible to counter attacks, because they do not have as many players behind the ball. When the attacking team wins the ball, the defenders need to look to play the ball down the flanks to the outside midfielders so that they can advance it further. Once they advance they can look to play the ball back in to the forwards for a quick shot.
Attacking various defenses can be difficult if the defense has not been seen before, but with these tips it will be much easier to advance the ball down the field and put it in a good position for the forwards to score.
Kimberly Podolsky - I am currently a student studying English at Millersville University in Lancaster, PA. When I am not studying or writing, I enjoy spending ...
