Soccer Edition 55

Welcome to the Soccer Newsletter. Today’s subject will deal with positions and younger players.

If you haven’t participated in the latest survey yet, please do so at http://finesoccer.com/survey.htm as there is a somewhat disturbing trend in the results to date but I need some more participants to have a more statistically accurate conclusion

I was observing a training session this past week and at one point, the coach had them playing a 3 v 3 game (which I think is great).  However, the discouraging part of what I saw was when he assigned one of the three to be a sweeper, one to be a midfielder and one to be a forward.  While this is certainly an extreme in the use of assigning positions, I do come across this way too often. 

Rather then training our players to be forward, or midfielders or backs, lets train them to be soccer players.  If, we as coaches, separate the backs from the frontrunners, how are the backs supposed to know when what their teammates are going to do at a given moment?  If we separate them, how will a forward know what to do when a back overlaps around them and they have to step back and cover for this runner?  All of a sudden, we have two players “out of position” when, with proper training, we would have two soccer players who have simply exchanged roles for a while and are both comfortable with their new responsibilities.

By using small-sided games in your training, you should be getting the players to have a better understanding of proper spacing and balance rather then how to play a certain role.

When using shadow training (see http://finesoccer.com/soccer_edition_54.htm) you are working on both positioning as well as shape and balance but force the players to work on each of the different positions.  Not only will this prepare them for what to do when they are in a different role but if I am a marking back, it will help me tremendously to know exactly what the role of the forwards on my teams are so that if I have the ball under pressure, I know how they will react and where I can find them even if I don’t have time to get my head up and look around.  Also, if I train some as a forward, I will have a better idea of what an opposing forward is going to do in a given situation so not only will it make me a better forward when the opportunity arises, but it will also make you a better back as well.

The main exception to this belief that all players should be trained to play all positions is the position of goalkeeper.  Obviously, the keeper needs specialized training but the truth is, the keeper needs to get some training on the field as well so that she has a better idea of what each players role is and also so that she can have a better understanding of the limitations that players have on a field.

Are there other exceptions?  Sure.  When working on zonal defending in the back, it might make sense to expose all players to the way it’s done but then a larger emphasis can me made to the players who will most likely be back there during the games.  However, it is vital that all players still be exposed to this so they can understand the different roles and visual cues that go with it.

Am I saying to get rid of all positions on a soccer field?  Of course not, but rather I am saying to train players to be able to play each of these positions instead of putting them in a position and saying that position is all they will play.  By doing this, you will create soccer players instead of just forwards, midfielders and backs.

Agree?  Disagree? Have another thought on this, feel free to post your ideas at http://finesoccer.com/forum.htm or email me at comments@finesoccer.com.

Remember that all previous newsletters can be found online at http://finesoccer.com

Have a great day

Lawrence