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Basic Elements of Soccer Strategy

There are four basic aspects in the game of soccer. As a soccer coach, you need to develop four clear strategic objectives that your players can follow. It took me years to develop this system of looking at the game and it seems to cover every tactical problem I've encountered.

	On ball	Off ball
Offense	-finishing	-finishing runs	finishing
	-possession	-support	buildup
	-pressure	-backup	regaining possession
Defense	-clearing	-marking	limiting the enemy

Finishing (trying to score vs possession)
Attempts on goal are the main reason why goals are scored; therefore, effective finishing decides the outcome of games. Without successful finishing, matches cannot be won. Develop a strategy of when to shoot and how many players to get involved in your attacks. Engaging too many players in the frontline may leave holes in your defense so balance is key.
Shooting: Shooting must be used when one finds himself in a position where his skills are capable and likely of producing a goal. If the given situation offers better alternatives for using possession, then a good finisher must realize that and restrain his attempt. The execution of the shot balances the risk of losing possession with the chance of scoring a goal. During matches, give constant feedback to your players of what the current value of possession is. Missed shots should be viewed as insight as to what went wrong.
Finishing runs: Finishing runs are offensive movements that increase a team's chance of scoring. Notice that executing a finishing run is not necessarily done with the intent of contacting the ball. For example, a dummy run will distract the enemy defense but the person initiating it has no intent of getting the ball himself. Encourage specific players, which you think are capable of scoring, to go up and make offense runs. Explain to them under which conditions to go ahead and where to run.

Preserving possession (buildup)
If your opponent doesn't have the ball he can't score on you. Skillful teams use possession to control the outcome of games. It is essential that you explain to your players what to do with ball possession. How do you want them to buildup attacks? Should they try to preserve control or risk it and go forward. Your decision should be dictated by the overall speed/skill of your team as well as the current result of the match.
Passing: There is a popular saying that states "If you can't pass, you can't play football". The ball can be kicked at speeds over 100 kilometers per hour surpassing even the most talented of sprinters, let alone dribblers. Passing the ball, or kicking it over to a teammate, is therefore a quick and energy-efficient way of moving the ball between teammates and exploiting possession. Thanks to these benefits, defending against a team that can pass the ball well becomes considerably harder. Without team-wide tactical organization, adequate skill, physique and mental toughness dealing with opposition that can dominate possession can be very frustrating from the perspective of the defending team. Discuss with your team how you want them to move the ball and buildup attacks. Decide what would work best for your team: to play the ball around the entire pitch or to make direct passes towards the enemy goal.
Dribbling: Operating on the field means using a variety of skills. Dribbling is the method used for transporting the ball from one point to the other. Tactically, it serves the same purpose as passing so it should be treated the same way. There is no sense in discouraging effective dribbling. For example, your attacks could be much more dangerous if you employ good dribblers who can carry the ball forward. Put your best dribblers on the flanks. Beating opponents on the wings causes more discomfort for the opposition by pulling out enemy defenders from the middle.
Ball control: This wide range of functionality cause the very common application of control in the modern game and makes it essential for players of all positions. Control increases one's comfort level when further handling the ball. That renders it very useful in situations where safety is needed. Sometimes, like when dealing with hard or high passes, it's eminent to use it. When used skillfully, control can get us away from dangerous pressure zones. Control can also be used to delay play and draw in enemy pressure. It is very important to have an accurate first touch because it determines to large extent the outcome of the following touch (it can even deter us from having such). Control must be applied in composed manner and should suit the current play based on available space and time. Tell your players individually when and how to use control. In defense, the ball should be handled calmly with safety in mind - in case of any doubt, it should be cleared away or played back to the keeper. In attack, clarify to your players if you want them to be quick and knock the ball around with a few touches or if they should settle it comfortably and force the enemy to pressure for it.
Support: Giving support mean proving options for the ball carrier with the intent of preserving team possession. Without off-ball movement it is impossible to move or make sensible use of the ball. Be very specific and give examples to your players of how to provide support. In attack, it is better to stretch the game as wide as possible. Your players should know that when attacking it not always best to run forward. When your team is in possession, there should always be at least one or two players who check to the ball by moving towards the player who has it. The best way to check for the ball is by running back, in direction of the sideline (so that you eventually become square to the ball carrier). This pulls apart the enemy defense.

Regaining possession (pressure)
Regaining possession is important because it immediately stops the advancement of an enemy attack and provides the opportunity to counter. Let your players know when/where to pressure the enemy and how many players should get involved in the process. Would you like them to regain possession as soon as they can or only when in their own half? These are issues that need to addressed beforehand.
Pressuring: Pressuring means directly challenging the ball carrier with the purpose of regaining possession. It is a tactically aggressive act that may cause problems in situations when your defense is inferior in terms of numbers.
Backup: Providing backup or cover means having an additional defender behind the player who is pressuring the ball. This discourages the ball carrier from trying to take on whoever is pressuring him and slows down his attack.

Delaying the opposition
Why expend energy and try to get possession of the ball if your team is winning with a comfortable margin? Defensively, it is not always suitable to confront the enemy and try to take the ball from him. In some cases, it may be smarter to simply delay his game or close his options (without necessarily trying to gain possession).
Clearing: Playing the ball out of danger is used to delay the opposition from advancing their attack.
Marking: Marking and covering enemies ensures the prevention of their involvement into an attack. It usually forces the enemy attackers to move away from your goal by blocking their direct route to goal.

Strategy for Attacking Soccer

This page presents the basic methods used in soccer attacking. These methods must be learned by both offensively and defensively oriented players. As long as your team has the ball, you are a participant in the offensive action. Remember that playing offense in football requires improvisation and creativity. The methods below are examples and should be me modified according to the situation.

Short Passing
When passing to a marked player, you must aim the ball at the foot of your teammate that is on the opposite side of his marker.

If you're making a supporting run, you should initiate eye contact with the ball carrier. This greatly increases your chance of getting the ball.

When receiving the ball, never let it roll towards you. You must take charge and check to it. This will provide you with more time and an extra step compared to your marker.

The Overlap

If there is open room on the flank aside of the ball carrier, the overlap could be exploited as a dangerous weapon. When used down the wing, the overlap is very difficult to cover by enemy defenders. The only downside is that it leaves open space behind you. When executed in the middle of the field, the overlap usually spreads the enemy defense.

Distributing the ball

There are different types of passes according to the direction of where the ball is headed. The player with the ball should try passing the ball in the open angles.
The "open space" is the room behind the opposite defenders. It is of great advantage to play the ball in the open space, because it makes it unusually hard for the defenders to recover. The open space can be exploited with a chip or with a few short passes. The best way to use the outside angle is by making an overlap run in it.
Square passes are good for changing the point of attack and opening new passing angles.
Using the piercing pass can be very dangerous, but it is rarely available, considering that most defenders stay between the ball carrier and their own goal.

Creating Passing Angles

On offense, the closer you are to your teammates, the quicker the ball has to be distributed, dribbled, controlled and so on. Playing in this manner requires great skill and quickness from the players. It is also easier to defend against teams who are compact when attacking.
As this diagram shows, the further away your teammates are when supporting you, the more open angles or options are created. That also makes it more difficult for the opposite defense, who have to work harder by covering more space.

Chipping Over the Defense

If the attackers from your team are being marked by the last line of enemy defenders, there are two alternatives. One option is for them to check back to the ball. The more direct approach is for them to head forward. Due to the offside, they cannot simply run forward; the ball has to be played over them first. Depending on the attackers' speed, the ball should be targeted 3-10 meters (10-30 feet) behind the last line of enemy defense (Line B) and 6-10 meters (20 feet) in front the goalkeeper (Line A.)

The attacking players should start running toward the area behind the line of defenders (between line A and B) slightly before the ball leaves the feet of the passer. The attackers usually have an advantage, because the enemy fullbacks would have to turn 180 degrees to regain their ground.

Crossing

It is unlikely that a shot will be successful when the ball is far out on the flanks. In such situations, the ball has to be crossed to a place where a better shot can be taken.

The ideal spot for a cross is in the area between the penalty spot and the 6 yard line. This is the perfect spot because it is far enough to force the enemy keeper in coming out while it is relatively close enough to the goal for a header or shot.

In order to receive a cross, the attackers from a team must head to all the 6 points shown in the diagram in their respective order. It is important to note that the when heading to the target spots, one must stay outside of the penalty box until the ball carrier delivers the ball. This makes the opposite defenders' job much harder - they have to simultaneously follow both the moving ball and the player they are marking.

1. Near post run - the first player that arrives in the penalty area should go to this spot
2. Far post run - this is the second most important target. The player who reaches it, collects the "leftovers" from point 1 or some of the harder passes
3. Middle run - this point is 3rd in the order of importance. Only high passes for heading can reach this spot
4. Trash man's spot - the player at this point, collects the rebounds or "garbage" coming in from the penalty box
5. Back pass - from this point, many different plays can be initiated. The player who receives the ball on this spot can, for example, either cross it into the penalty area or head directly to goal
6. Opposite flank run - this could be a dangerous place for exploitation by the winger from the opposite side

Soccer Possession and Buildup

Passing
From a tactical standpoint, passes into space usually serve two objectives - they advance the ball forward and propel more attackers into enemy territory. It is no coincidence that direct attacks such as counterattacks are built with passes into space. Conversely, passing at the feet of a teammate gives him the freedom to alter the direction of play according to his perspective rather than head straight for goal. He must further operate with the ball and/or hand it over to another teammate. This process usually demands the involvement of a larger number of players. Passing therefore is the tool, which determines the style of buildup that a team uses.

Control
While sometimes it is better to control the ball into safety and deal with it carefully other times require quick execution. Deciding which to choose impacts team tactics. Defenders should work the ball with minimum risk, and therefore employ either solid control with shielding (controlling as to avoid pressure must be limited) or release securely. Using unpolished or uncomfortable skills, for example like passing without a preparation touch must be limited to a minimum. This will decrease possible errors at the back, which can be very costly. Midfield is a place where some experimentation should be utilized. At the attacking frontline improvisation is a key element of penetration. Statistics show that quick attacks are more frequently productive, meaning that using control too much may slow things down. That doesn't mean that when attacking a team should just rush the ball forward. Certain situations, like counter attacks or combinations in the final third, require fast ball work while possession football and slowing the tempo demand accuracy. By factoring out all these variables you will be able to weigh out particular situations and react suitably to the team's style of play.

Dribbling
From a tactical point of view, dribbling is a way of repositioning the ball on the pitch. There are three main repercussions caused by this movement - manipulating the direction/position of enemies who are drifting towards the ball, beating defenders one-on-one and sharpening one's current field perspective by opening shooting/passing angles. Fullbacks may dribble (forward) during the early stages of the buildup to bring out opposing players and thus stretch out compact enemy formations. In midfield, where most enemies are tightly concentrated, dribbling is good for opening passing lanes. If there is enough room, manipulating their direction (position) is also possible by dribbling at various angles. Attackers or wingers employ dribbling to beat defenders or rid of their obstructive pressure so they can shoot or cross the ball unhindered. Essentially, dribbling is used in all areas of the field with varying purpose. On the flanks or in the final third (where free room behind the enemy defender(s) is available) beating the opponent(s) can be of great advantage. In a condensed midfield dribbling opens passing lanes or shift the concentration/direction of enemy players. At the back (especially on the outside wings) dribbling with the ball attracts enemy pressure and stretches out the enemy team. Overall, this skill is valuable in all positions by providing different advantages.

Finishing Strategy for Soccer

Finishing and possession
Finishing usually impacts a team's possession by putting the ball at risk and should be avoided unless a goal is ensured or at least very likely. As you can see, even team tactics are involved in shooting and in the decision to risk possession or to shoot at every chance. There is a way to minimize the loss of possession caused by shooting.
One does not have to be sure that he will score on every attempt. Sometimes, when a teammate or a few are around the penalty box, shooting can result in a dangerous rebound situation. When taking such types of shots one must place the ball on the net. It's more important that the shot is not above the upper post so that even if it's not on goal there could be someone who can finish off or redirect it. Overall, shooting is dictated by team tactics (if protecting a narrow lead, don't risk possession and vice versa) but a window of personal creativity remains open. For example, if the enemy keeper is not concentrated, then he could be tested with a long shot.

Synchronized offensive runs
The harmonious execution of the different runs within an attacking team is extremely important. Runs executed first or close to the ball usually draw most attention from the enemy defense. Weak or inexperienced teams usually have poor coordination of their attacking runs. Younger teams, for example, tend to rush with too many direct runs at goal with little indirect movement. That greatly decreases their attacking potential making them very predictable and uncontrolled during play.

Pressure

Pressuring the ball is the first principal of playing defense. In theory, it makes more difficult for the enemy to operate the ball. That is why it's applied more firmly around one's own goal, to narrow the enemy's chance of scoring. Applying pressure could also be used to regain possession of the ball. If the defending team has better/more aggressive one-on-one specialists they may try gaining control of the ball right away. Conversely, when playing against a squad of skillful dribblers, it would be wiser to challenge for the ball only after getting adequate backup. Where to pressure is another important factor that must be coordinated in a tactically sharp team. Pressuring with the intent of gaining possession requires a good amount of numbers and proper nearby marking. Without shutting down the off-ball opposition there will be little effect in pressuring. Ideally, a tight defense would force the ball back/outside when applying pressure.

Denying opposition

The two principles, on which playing defense is based, are compactness and quantity. In order to prevent the opposition from scoring, the defense has to be compactly organized. They have to be closely packed and blocking the enemy's direct path to goal. This makes it harder for the attackers to develop dangerous plays and generally forces them to the flanks. In football, defending 6 versus 6 is more favorable than 3 versus 3. The second important factor in playing defense is having advantageous numbers versus the offense. The way to do that is by having the midfielders drop behind the ball. Therefore, the job of the fullbacks is to delay the enemy and give time for the midfielders to retrieve back.