 Posted 05/06/2007 12:19:44
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Hi there,
I coach an under 12 "A" side and we have had a good start to the season, having played 4, won 3 and drawn 1.
I have been working hard teaching my boys about the offside trap, especially my defenders / midfield. This has been working
very well, so i thought, with 14 goals for us and 6 against us.
However, this week end we played a team with 2 "Super fast" strikers, so there midfield literally popped the ball over our heads,
and there strikers were there to finish it off. We lost 7 - 1, ouch!!!
Do i continue working with the offside trap, up to which point on our half? I play a 4 - 4 - 2 formation, but eventually had to put 5 back in defence.
Your suggestions would really be appreciated,
Ta
Wayne _ Panorama Football Club - South Africa
Hatch
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Posted 05/06/2007 12:51:11
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| Hi to my simple mind - if your playing against super fast strikers then play your defence deeper and have them hold a deeper line were the speed of the strikers cant hurt them in behind. If they are a bit deeper then the ball over the top can be dealt with and the speed of the strikers is negated. If you play high then the ball over the top gives a lot of grass for the speedy strikers to use and stretch their advantage. Jim
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Posted 05/06/2007 23:54:05
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| with you on that one Jim. As for the offside trap at junior level Wayne, put it to bed and teach the players to defend and tackle, worry about the offside trap when they are older
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Posted 07/06/2007 11:20:41
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| Thank Jim, Your advices are noted. The other problem that i seem to have, even after endless "jocking sessions", is that the boys still tend to dive into tackles. The other area of concern is that they are scared to header the ball from the opposing keepers "kick out". We have had a good run up until this past week end and the boys are a tad despondent!!!
Hatch
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Posted 07/06/2007 12:20:59
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| Hi I think a good idea is to use 3 defenders with 1 of them acting as sweeper. For example if the opposition has 1 forward who is causing trouble then you have a man-marker and 2 guys dropping deeper. But this system is best suited against 2 strikers as you have your 2 man-markers and the extra man at the back covering incase your markers lose the individual battle against the striker. Although you are a man short up-front or in the middle, it makes you harder to beat and you no longer need to worry about your defensive problems.
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Posted 08/06/2007 15:24:09
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| Theyre are some good drills and games for lads to use that teachs them about defending properly without diving in , cos as we all know once a player is on his backside (after having dived in ) the striker is free to attack. Its about teaching them the correct stance , the correct approach to the player which is fine for me to do as my lot are 13-14's but at a younger age I would imagine its tougher trying to get them to understand it. If you have a look for any FA Level 2 coaching drill books or pamphlets - they have some good drills in them which works specifically on defending 1v1 , 2v1 , 2v2 , 1v2 etc..
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Posted 20/06/2007 11:58:22
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| Hi there all, I have taken your advices, and we have reverted to dropping back into more a defensive role. We play the offside trap within limits, but attack from the defensive line.I value all input. regards
Hatch
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Posted 26/06/2007 19:25:49
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| Wayne I coach an under 18 team here in Sheffield, we had that problem last season when we played one of the top teams in our division, after 15 minutes found ourselves 3-0 down, we moved from 4-4-2 to 4-1-4-1 until half time with a strong defensive midfielder just sat in front of the back four who picked up on whichever of the stikers made the first run with a central defender then tracking the other, worked a dream and we pulled it back to 3-2. Beginning of the 2nd half went 4-3-3 with the defensive midfielder again doing the same job for about 15 minutes and the front 3 given a free role to do whatever was necessary and we won 6-3. Don't actually know whether under 12's would be able to grasp the changes in formation as well as under 18's did but may be worth noting and giving a try if you feel safe enough doing so. All the best for the future Tony
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Posted 26/06/2007 23:16:46
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| Other things you can do include coaching yr defense to " make the pitch small" so that its not easy for nippy forwards to get into space and split defences. Closest player goes to defend the ball, the next provides cover( and communicates) the next balance and so on. Coach them to understand their role and how it changes as the ball moves. better players will break down flat back 4s that play offside. Consider zonal marking rather than man to man. Try practise sessions that start 2vs 2 then 3vs3 than 4vs4 Then overload attack (6)vs defence(4) you'll be surprised how much yr defence can cope with if they are well organsied and trust each other. I agree play a deeper line but not so deep that you are sitting on yr 18 yard line
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Posted 27/06/2007 13:07:14
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| I run a side that will be going into under 18 this season 2007 - 2008. I have been with the same team since they were under 13. My approach to offside has always been based on three factors 1) The players positioning themselves side on so they are not having to turn to deal with anything going over head height 2) defending in zones a) halfway line b) last third c) edge of the 18 yard box. As play approaches the defensive line drops to the neccarsarry zone 3) The goalkeepers positioning - if the defence is holding half way line then the keeper is positioned on the edge of the semi circle of the penalty area thus minimising space behind the defence. The above "factors" have held us in good stead for the past five seasons and we havent really suffered from any danger of a high ball over the defence. We are also blessed to possess an extremely quick and competeitive centre half who relishes the one on one challenge who if we do come up against exceptional speed can effectively man mark.
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