Tactics & Tips

Your players may have mastered all of the skills of the game but without effective tactics, they will struggle to win matches. The articles in this section look at how to develop tactical awareness in your players and how to get the best out of your players in particular situations. These articles will help give your players a deeper understanding of the role of tactics in the game and will help them realise their own potential.

Getting the winning habits - There are tried and tested ways of improving your winning chances. For example, before match day - get players' minds and bodies right.

Throw-ins For Juniors. Make Them Quick! - Everyone in your team must be able to throw the ball in. Don't opt for dedicated throwers.

Surprise Tactics - Shooting at Kick Off - As a coach you will often get asked by parents what happened to the fun side of soccer. Well here's something that is not only fun but creative, skilful and will add a bit of flair on match days.

Never Concede from a Corner Again - Giving players specialist positions during matches can be extremely effective. Tell them where to stand, what to do and how to do it, particularly in situations where your team is under pressure. Are you conceding a lot of goals from corners? Then you need a player to stand BIG at the front of your penalty area to block the corner taker. Do this properly and you need never concede from a corner again.

How to Coach the Perfect Free-Kick - There is nothing more satisfying than bending the ball from free-kicks over the wall into the back of the net. Get yourself down to the practice field so that at the next training session you can show your free-kick takers how it's done. Watch their faces as you curl it into the top corner!

Block The Special One With Clever Tactics - Sometimes your team will play opponents who have one player that is much more talented than the rest. This could be a striker that they rely on to score all their goals, or the player who starts all their moves. So how can you change your tactics to deal with this problem?

Moving Up to 11-a-Side - Moving from the smaller 7-a-side games to the 11-a-side format presents a number of problems that you the coach have to solve. Over the next few months I will make it easier for you to make that transition. I've done it twice with both my sons' teams.

Play-makers or Counter-attackers? - Every coach, whatever age group, has to decide which style of play suits his team's strategy: a play-making or counter-attacking style. But, don't be afraid to change it during a match.

How Passing Back Creates Space For Attackers - Sometimes you need to get your players to pass back so they can advance forward. In the first of a two-part guide to passing back we look at how to pass into a target man.

How to Switch the Attack to Score More Goals - The best teams switch the ball continuously, looking for space and probing the opposition's defence for an error.

Tony Carr on Defending Corners - One of the key elements of a defensive strategy for your team is getting your players to know their positions at corners, says Tony Carr, Academy Director at West Ham United.

Score More Goals From Corners - Now that we have successfully defended the corner, got the ball up to the other end of the pitch and won our own corner, Tony Carr of the West Ham United FC Academy shows us how to set up a team to attack a corner to maximise the scoring opportunity.

How to Always Win Possession from Goal Kicks - The ideal way of getting your players into shape to defend or attack goal kicks is by shouting a one word code. If you use my technique below all you will have to shout is "DIAMOND".

How to Coach Movement Off the Ball - I am always looking for good ways to coach movement off the ball. The best way I've found is to set up a system which needs good fitness and penetrating passes.

How Short Corners Create Goals - Having problems with corners? Try taking them short, it’s an easy way to goal, says David Clarke.

How Goalkeepers are Crucial for Good Passing Moves - Successful distribution from the keeper is a hallmark of a good side. This means that building up from the back is better than launching the ball up field hoping one of your players can get it, says David Clarke.

How to Change Your Tactics to Play Better Soccer - Changing tactics is something every coach has to consider when he can't find a winning combination. Young players need to begin their soccer careers with a sound understanding that tactics matter, says David Clarke.

How Quick Free-Kicks Open Opposition Defences - Free-kicks are given so you have an advantage over your opponents - make sure your players are prepared to make the most of them. One way to do this is by catching the opposition off their guard, says David Clarke.

How to Coach Your Team to Switch Play - Get your team to keep the game flowing and split defences by swinging the ball from one side to the other to create space and outnumber the defence. You can also release pressure by switching the ball, says David Clarke.

Try Alternative Kick-Offs to Keep Teams Guessing - Kick-offs are particularly important in junior soccer because if you’ve just given away a goal, or you are starting the first or second half of a match, you need your players to take the initiative and catch your opponent out, says David Clarke.

Coach Your Team to Pass Past Players - There is a direct relationship between overall team success and both the total number of passes and the passing success rate. In combinations of twos and threes you can pass your way to goal, says David Clarke.

Attack! Attack! Attack! - Whatever age group you are coaching - at 7-a-side or 11-a-side - breaking away with a three-man move will always cause havoc in the opposition defence. It’s a quick, skilful way to goal, says David Clarke.

How To Turn Throw-ins Into Goals - What I look out for at throw-ins is plenty of movement, space and options created by my other players. It is important they know how to exploit this space so that it pays off on match days, says David Clarke.