Edition 4

Welcome to the Soccer Newsletter. Today's issue deals with switching the ball around the back in order to change the point of attack.

We will start with the reasons for switching the ball around the back and then get into what is the best way to accomplish this switch.

There are two main reasons for switching the ball around the back. The first one is when the opposing team is playing high pressure in their offensive third of the field. Let's assume the right marking back has the ball and one or two opposing players are pressuring her. Too many teams respond to this high pressure by kicking the ball aimlessly down the field. Rather then do this, she could play the ball to the marketing back on the opposite side of the field and since there is no way the opponents can run as quickly as the ball, this will get the ball to a player who is not under pressure (pressure being the absence of space and time). The other reason to switch the ball around the back is when the opponent is playing low pressure and packed their players behind the ball. This is one way to combat what was referred to during the women's world cup as the Bunker Defense. When an opposing team packs it in, the best means of attacking this is to keep switching the ball from side to side extremely quickly in order to tire the defense out and start to create passing lanes to work with. Since switching the ball around the back is an effective way to combat both high pressure as well as low-pressure teams, you can see why it's important to be able to do this effectively.

The most effective way to switch the ball is simply to keep playing "behind square" balls. This means that instead of
playing a square ball from the marking back on the right side to the sweeper and then from the sweeper to the back on the left side, you would play a ball back and square. To understand what this means, simply picture what a square pass would be and then have the recipient be a few yards back further. The reason for this is that if a square pass in intercepted, both the passer and the intended receiver are beat since they are caught flat. However, if the intended receiver is behind square, and the pass is intercepted (less likely to happen since the pass is away from the opponents) the intended receiver is still between the interceptor and the goal. For this reason, when the right back has the ball, the sweeper will want to immediately get into a behind square position (or if the sweeper is making a run, then another player would take that space. As soon as the ball is played to the sweeper position the player on the left side will automatically get behind square to prepare for the next ball. If the opposing team is playing high pressure and you switch the ball with behind square passes, you will have switched the fields and spread the opponent out at the same
time.

It's not acceptable to just play the ball to players behind square and to feet. The point of playing balls to feet is fine in rec soccer but to play at a higher level, you must be much more specific then this. Balls must be played to a specific foot at a specific time. If the ball is being switched for the right side to the left, the ball must be played to the players left foot. This will allow the players to keep their bodies opened up play the ball in the direction that they are facing.

While the backs are playing the ball behind square to switch the field, the stopper and center mids are constantly moving trying to create triangles for the backs to always have the option to go forward instead of behind square on each pass. By doing this, you keep the opponents honest and if they do decide to overplay the back square pass, the team can be split by going to one of these midfield players and the attack has begun. While trying to create triangles, the midfielders are working extra hard to not only be in support but they must work hard enough to be in support with their hips opened up to the field so they can see the field and take their first touch going forward.

While the backs are providing the depth in support and the central players are providing the forward support, the outside players provide the width. They must be wide enough to literally be on the end line (one yard in is not acceptable, we want to create the space in the middle by starting this person wide. They also must be willing to come back deep enough that when one of the outside backs has the ball, the outside mids are back far enough that they are the second part of the triangle support along with one of the central players. Any ball played to this outside player would be played either to her outside foot or if possible, slightly in front of the outside foot.

By switching the ball around the back, you will find it much to easier combat almost any type of defense.

The next issue of the Soccer Newsletter will talk about attacking out of the back.

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