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Space
1. The first step in understanding the game of soccer is to understand space is and its importance.
Spaces are the gaps between and around the opponents. A player standing in such an area “has space” or “is open”. This gives them time to control the ball and play it wisely. Imagine a player receiving a ball with the closest defender half a field away. It takes the defender a long time to cross the space and get to the player, (THIS IS WHY WE SWITCH THE FIELD OF PLAY). This space also depends on the speed and aggressiveness of the defender. Room to control the ball makes space very important… ask anyone who has tried to juggle in a phone booth. The higher ones skill level the less space one needs to control the ball. SO WORK ON YOUR BALL SKILLS.
There is a set amount of space on a soccer field. Defenders can physically occupy only a certain portion of the field… what remains is SPACE. The amount of space depends entirely on the position of the defenders.
In general, if attacking players spread out, defenders will spread out too. You can do this tactically by MOVEMENT, PASSING and DRIBBLING.
2. Spread out and weaken the defense
This diagram shows good shape with the attacking team speading the defenders.
A defense works better when its compact. When defenders are close they can apply greater pressure and better assist each other by working together as a team. The defending team loses these advantages when it is spread out, becoming a loose collection of individual defenders. When defenders are spread out attackers have more space to control and maneuver the ball. An attacker has wider angles to pass the ball to a teammate. Remember individual, isolated defenders are easier to beat by dribbling and passing.
Attacking players must have good width, (chalk), and depth.
Many players complain because they do not receive the ball as much as they would like. However, they do not seem to realize that they must take some responsibility for this. Standing around waiting for a teammate to pass them the ball is not enough (one of my pet peeves is seeing players standing with their hand in the air indicating that if the ball is played into space, they will run onto it). Instead, the player must first create space for themselves to run into, and then they must actually make a hard run to get the ball. One coach I know uses the term "call for the ball with a run". What he means by this is that one of the best ways to "call" for the ball is to make a run to get open. In this case, actions do speak louder then words.
One way to create space is to take the defender away from the spot where you want to receive the ball. If you are in the middle of the field and want to receive the ball there, make a run out wide to take the defender with you, and then with a quick change of pace and direction, check into the space you want to receive the ball. Too often, when I do see players trying to create space for themselves, they do it without changing pace at all. Even if this means slowing down with part of the run and then accelerating, this is an effective way.
If the defender is overplaying the checking back run, then the forward can simply reverse the run. Check to the ball in order to suck the defender in, and then quickly sprint away in order to receive a ball played into space behind the defender (make sure this spring doesn't put you into an offside position).
If you want to create space so that you can receive the ball with your feet, it's important to take the defender in the direction opposite you want to go. Take the defender off in an angle and this will allow you to go forward when turning without running straight into the defender. If you want to turn and hit a shot with your right foot, take the defender to the left of the goal and then check back. This will create space to turn and hit a right footed shot.
It's always surprised me how rarely players work to create space for themselves. If you want the ball, then you must work for it. Now I hope that you have a better idea of the effectiveness of change of direction and pace.
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