The Soccer Helper - Principles of Play

To be a better coach, you must first understand the Principles of Play

These principles

1. Have remained the same for as long as the game has existed, even though we may not have know it at the time. 
2. Apply to the game regardless of different systems of play and the different formations played by teams
   
3. Will withstand the evolution of the game
4. Will always apply regardless of whether your team, or the opposition team plays a 4-4-2 system or a 3-5-2 system or a 4-3-3 system.

In fact the principles of play are vital in coaching because understanding them will make it far easier to deal with and exploit variations in formations and systems of play that you will encounter from opposition teams. 

The principles of play are divided into 2 catagories

Attacking Principles

The attacking principles apply when our team has the ball is is looking to:

1. Keep possession of the ball
   
2. Move the ball forward into an attacking position
3. Create chances to score a goal
   

Defending Principles

Conversely, the defending principles apply when the opposition has the ball, and our team needs to:

1. Prevent the opposition from creating a chance to score a goal
2. Limit the opportunities for the opposition to get into attacking positions
3. Regain possession

Attacking Principles of Play

When your team has the ball, the Attacking Principles apply, regardless of the position that the ball is on the field.  The five principles of that govern play when you are attacking are:

1. Penetration
2. Depth
3. Width
4. Mobility
5. Improvisation

The following discusses the various roles and tasks that players have to follow the attacking principles

Attacking principle - role of the 1st Attacker to achieve penetration, use improvisation and maintain possession

When our team has the ball, the first and foremost objective is to achieve penetration, that is move the ball forward.  The ultimate penetration is of course having a shot and scoring a goal, but how do we get to that position.

The 1st attacker (the player with the ball) should attempt to attack the space behind the defender. 

This can be achieved in a number of ways, and does depend on where abouts on the field you have the ball.

• Shooting
• Dribbling past a defender
• Passing the ball befind a defender to a 2nd attacker and immediately offering support to that player
• Putting the ball and youself into the space behind the defender, either by a pass to youself or a wall pass
• Looking to run at angles to get behind the defender

It may be necessary to create space behind the defender to exploit that space.

Create space behind the defender by

• Commiting the defender to challange
• Enticing the defender forward and thereby creating space behind the defender

The 1st Attacker is also required to keep possesion of the ball

• Keep the ball moving and away from the defenders range
• Take the ball away from the defenders feet with your first touch
• Move the ball into space, and improvise to trick defenders into moving the wrong way
  

Attacking principles - role of the 2nd Attackers to provide depth and width

The 2nd attacker(s) are the players in the immediate vicinity of the 1st attacker. The role of the 2nd attacker(s) is to try and achieve depth and width by providing a supporting role.
The role of the 2nd attacker(s) is to help the 1st attacker by:

• Supporting at various distances within the visual range of the 1st attacker. 
• Giving the 1st attacker a number of options and the 1st attacker should look to get the ball forward as much as possible
• Giving the 1st attacker a good angle and clear line to pass the ball.  When Receiving the ball the support player must be positioned to play the ball in the desired direction (usually forward) with their first touch.  This is normally done by the receiving player having an open stance.
• If the 1st attacker is attempting to dribble past the defender, the supporting players help by moving away from the 1st attacker, and thereby enticing the 2nd defender away from their supporting role
• The supporting attackers should be in constant communication with the 1st attacker, letting them know of any dangers, or options that the 1st attacker is not aware of.

Attacking principles - role of the 3nd Attackers to provide mobility, depth, width and penetration

the 3rd attacker(s) are other attackers that are away from the immediate playing area.  3rd attackers provide a supporting role to the 1st and 2nd attackers in a number of ways to ensure that the principles of play are being followed.

• Make runs on the blind side of defenders
• Attacks the space behind the defenders without the ball
• Runs away from defenders which can have 2 outcomes

1. The defender follows the attacker and so space is created behind the defender
2. The defender does not follow the attacker, so the attacker is now free

• Runs that are made with no intention to receive the ball must be encouraged as much as runs to receive the ball
• Commit the last defender byrunning past them and distracting them
• Entice 3rd defenders away and thereby creating space

The timing of runs is vital

1. Running to create space the run is made early
2. Running to exploit existing space the is made late

Defending Principles of Play

Conversely, when the opposityion has the ball, the Defending Principles apply,again,  regardless of the position that the ball is on the field.  The five principles of that govern play when you are defending:

1. Delay
2. Depth
3. Balance
4. Concentration
5. Control/Restraint

he following discusses the various roles and tasks that players have to follow the attacking principles

Defending - role of the 1st Defender to win the ball or delay the opposition

When the opposition has the ball, the first and foremost objective is to regain possession. 
The player with the ball is the most dangerous opponent and should always be the focus of the 1st defender

Roles of the 1st defender (the defender closest to the ball and usually  goalside) . 

• Must focus on the ball and the 1st attacker
• Wins the ball or delays penatration
  
• Stops or delays the opponent playing the ball forward
• Reduces the opponent space by applying pressure quickly
• Show the opponent the way that the 1st defender wants the attacker to go
• Applies a tackle to the opponent when there are supporting defenders
• Stays on their feet in a balanced and ready state, focussing on the ball

Defending principles - role of the 2nd Defenders to provide depth, concentration and mobility

The 2nd defenders(s) are the players in the immediate vicinity of the 1st defender. The role of the 2nd defender(s) is to provide a a supporting role.
The role of the 2nd defender(s) is to help the 1st defender by:

• Cover and support quickly 
  
• May have to mark the supporting attackers. Note the 1st attackes body shape will dictate where the 2nd defender should concentrat the support.
  
• Always looking to
  

1. apply double pressure to the player with the ball
2. apply pressure to the next opponent that is able to receive the ball

• The supporting defender(s) should be in constant communication with the 1st defender, letting them know of any dangers, or options that the 1st defender is unaware of.

Attacking principles - role of the 3rd Defenders to provide concentration, mobility and communication

The 3rd defender(s) are other defenders that are away from the immediate playing area.  3rd defender(s) provide a supporting role to the 1st and 2nd defenders in a number of ways to ensure that the principles of play are being followed.

• Tracking down opponents that are making forward runs
  
• Do not allow opponents to get goalside of them
  
• Always prepared to balance the defence
• Always prepared to become 1st or 2nd Defenders INSTANTLY
• Always scanning the field and supllying communication
• Always looking for intereptions
• Always looking to apply pressure to the next play that is able to receive the ball
• Apply tight marking so the opponent cannot score with the 1st touch

Note: these principles of play were derived notes take at a coaching lecture I attended conducted by Harry Bingham of the Victorian Soccer Federation at Monash University in 2005