| One of the critical jobs that a coach must perform is | | | | attacking centre midfield and a holding centre |
| to gel the playing style of the team with the physical | | | | midfield? |
| attributes of the players. If you are in the fortunate | | | | Some common mistakes that I have seen coaches |
| position of selecting the players that will play on your | | | | make by not matching the players physical abilities to |
| team then prior to selections it is critical that you | | | | the style of play of the team include trying to attack |
| decide on how you are going to play. For each | | | | using a long through ball when the striker is not fast |
| position you should have a list of the desirable | | | | enough to beat the defenders to the ball. Playing with |
| attributes for the player to fill that position and you | | | | a flat back four when the defenders are vulnerable |
| can then select them accordingly. If you are not in a | | | | to a fast attacker and a through ball. And trying to |
| position to select your players then you must choose | | | | play a short passing game where the players do not |
| a playing style that fits the players that you have | | | | have an adequate first touch allowing them to control |
| available to you. This will have a big bearing on the | | | | the ball effectively in a reduced space. |
| overall performance of your team. | | | | When you decide the style of play that you are |
| Some of the key physical attributes that you should | | | | going to utilise this will then lead you to the |
| be looking for in players include speed, physical | | | | appropriate training drills. Match your training drills to |
| presence, first touch control, passing ability, mobility | | | | the appropriate skills that are required to play the |
| around the field, the ability to play under pressure, | | | | kind of game that you are looking to play. If you are |
| the ability to play when fatigued, the ability to read a | | | | looking to play possession soccer you need to coach |
| game and be in position, endurance, and teamwork, | | | | your players to control the ball with a good first |
| just to name a few. | | | | touch, move into space, keep their head up and look |
| What kind of game do you want to play? Are you | | | | for the easy pass, and play under pressure. Your |
| going to play possession soccer where the key | | | | training drills should emphasize these skills. |
| element is to hold onto the ball and wear down an | | | | Matching your players abilities to your playing style |
| opponent? Are you looking to play a quick passing | | | | and then making your training drills appropriate to the |
| game? Do you want to play a wide game utilising | | | | skills you are looking to develop is one of the most |
| overlapping defenders? Do you want to play through | | | | critical elements of effectively coaching young soccer |
| the middle of the field? Are you looking to play long | | | | players. You may be in the fortunate position of |
| balls through to your strikers? | | | | being able to select the players on your team. If this |
| The formation that you play will also be decided by | | | | is the case you should identify the playing style that |
| the abilities of your players. Are you going to play | | | | you want to use and then select your players |
| with a flat back four because your defenders are | | | | accordingly. If you cannot select your players, you |
| quick enough to defend against an attacking through | | | | should identify the playing style after you have |
| ball? Are you going to play with 2 strikers because | | | | assessed the abilities of each of your players. This will |
| your midfield is mobile enough to support them | | | | start you well on the road to being an effective |
| moving forward? Are you going to play with an | | | | junior soccer coach. |