Edition 40

Welcome to the Soccer Newsletter. Today's topic for discussion are near post and far post runs.

First, I would like to tell people about an article whose link was sent to me by one of my players. He
knew that over the last couple of months, I have received a number of questions about weight training
and have been looking for a good resource. This link is to an article that has a soccer specific weight
training program in it and it looks quite useful. Check it out when you get a chance at
http://musculardevelopment.com/june99/sportspecific.html. I have read through it and it looks good but judge for yourself.

First, to make sure everyone is on the same page, the near post is the post closest to the ball. A near post run goes toward the near post (bending the run slightly in order to improve the angle in which to score). The first purpose of the near post run is to draw the defenders and keeper toward the near post. For this reason, it is an unselfish run since done correctly; it will create a scoring opportunity for others. In order to make accomplish this, the near post runner must go at full speed and preferably should be loud so that the players know where she is going. The second purpose of  the near post runner is to prevent the keeper from getting any ball played to the near post. In order to do this, the runner must get to the near post early so that if the ball is played there, she can beat the keeper to the ball. If the ball is played behind the near post runner, she should NOT slow down but rather keep the run going (remember the primary responsibility is to draw the defenders and keeper). Once the ball is past her, she should bend her run out and enlarge the goal. This means that if the far post runner gets the ball and shoots back to the far post (which is now a different post then it was when the runners started because the ball changed sides) and the shot is wide ofthe goal. The one thing that the near post runner has to be aware of is to make sure she stays onsides when making this run.


The far post run does NOT go to the far post (which is the post furthest from the ball). Instead, far post
runner makes a bending run so that she ends up somewhere around 6 yards wide of the goal (far side) and between the 12 and the 18. The purpose of the far post run is to be able to attack any ball that is played over or behind the near post runner (unless a runner going to the 12 yard spot gets to it first). While the near post runner is very proactive in that she makes her run before the ball is served and almost without regard for where the ball is served, the far post runner is much more reactive and must react to the given situation of where the other runners are and also where the defense is. Any ball that goes through the 18 is the responsibility of the far post runner.

To a large extent, the near and far post run require speed, intensity, timing, communication (if the far post runner doesn't want the near post runner to get the ball, she must call for it), skill and much, much more. Unfortunately, these runs seem to be neglected a lot of the time. The other thing that is needed is desire. A player can make the correct run but if she doesn't want it badly enough, she wont get the ball.

Check out the archives for all of the past newsletters at http://finesoccer.com

Any questions comments or suggestions should be sent to comments@finesoccer.com or posted at the FineSoccer Forum at http://finesoccer.com/forum.htm

Have a great day.

Lawrence