| You've got your soccer team, you've got your | | | | attacker, known as the 'target man', at your disposal |
| soccer formation: now it's time to talk soccer tactics. | | | | - not to mention a defender who can really kick it |
| Tactics in soccer is a term sometimes used | | | | the length of the field. |
| interchangably with formation on the soccer field, but | | | | Wing play: Wing play is generally the opposite of the |
| for this article we'll take it to mean aspects of play | | | | long ball game, but a target man can also be |
| put into action by the players on the pitch who | | | | employed here. Rather than bypassing the midfield, |
| already have a football formation to adhere to. | | | | the ball will travel much of the length of the field on |
| Soccer coaches talk tactics a lot, and it's clear to see | | | | the ground, being dribbled forward by a full-back or, |
| why. A team may have trouble getting the ball into | | | | more commonly, a wide midfielder or winger. This |
| the oppositions' goal area for any number of reasons, | | | | requires swift, usually short, skilful players with a low |
| and as such a change of tactics may be required to | | | | centre of gravity who can easily run with the ball and |
| do the trick. Tactics can also be changed during the | | | | fox defenders. When they hit the edge of the |
| game and worked on in training for an element of | | | | opponent's goal area they can 'cross' the ball into the |
| surprise. Below we'll look at four common tactical | | | | box high or low for the attackers to score with, or |
| set-ups and when they might be employed. | | | | cut inside themselves and take a shot on goal. |
| Route One - The Long Ball Game: Soccer fans tend | | | | The offside trap: This defensive tactic is risky, but a |
| to groan when they hear about long ball tactics, as it | | | | well-trained, well-drilled team can make it invaluable. |
| is considered a boring and unsophisticated style of | | | | The idea is to take advantage of soccer's "offside" |
| play. Yet when it works, and results in a goal, these | | | | rules by making all defenders - usually all four, in a |
| same supporters will be on their feet cheering! The | | | | 4-4-2 - time a run forward so that the opposing |
| long ball seeks to bypass much of the opposition by | | | | attacker is left in an offside position when the ball is |
| thumping the ball up from the defence right to the | | | | played to him. If one defender gets his timing wrong |
| attackers. Obviously, for this to work you need a | | | | the striker can go free one-on-one with the |
| strong, usually tall, and certainly very commanding | | | | goalkeeper, so don't try this one without a long time |
| striker who can jump for the ball in the air, bring it to | | | | of working on soccer drills and defensive training. |
| the ground, and then either pass it off to his partner | | | | Once you get it working, though, it's very effective, |
| forward or run at the defense. This is ideal against | | | | and really frustrates the opposition. |
| smaller defenders and if you have a tall, strong | | | | |