NEWS

Principles of Play #4 & 5

MAY 6, 2024

The 4th and 5th Principles of Play for John Jay Soccer both center around defensive responsibility and tactics when out of possession, and are essential to our success as a team and program.

"Maintaining a Compact Shape as a Unit" when out of possession is a fundamental principle in soccer, especially at the high school level, because it allows our team to effectively defend against the opponent's attacks and reduce the space available for them to exploit. The less space the opponent has to play within, the more difficult it is for them to play within it.

Vertical Compactness refers to the distance between the defensive lines, such as the backline and the midfield, which should be relatively close together (12 - 15 yards maximum). This compactness makes it difficult for the opponent to play through the central areas of the field, forcing them to play wide or over the top. Horizontal Compactness, on the other hand, involves keeping the distances between players close to each other laterally across the field. This helps in quickly closing down space when the ball is on one side of the field and also facilitates quick shifting as a unit when the ball switches to the opposite side.

Moving as a Unit When Shifting is crucial to maintaining defensive structure. Players must be aware of their positioning in relation to their teammates and the ball, ensuring that they maintain proper spacing and angles to cut off passing lanes and cover each other defensively. Tight Lines Prevent Central Penetration, making it difficult for the opponent to find passing gaps or seams to exploit. This forces them to play wide or backward, which can disrupt their attacking rhythm and potentially lead to turnovers.

Lastly, Understanding Cues for when to shift, press, and drop as a team is essential for effective defensive organization. This includes recognizing when to apply pressure on the ball, when to drop deeper to defend against through balls or long passes, and when to shift as a unit to cover space and passing lanes.

Our 5th Principle of Play, "Cutting the Field in Half to Prevent Switch of Play" when we are out of possession involves several key strategies:

Preventing Central Play: Our entire defensive side's primary aim is to restrict our opponent's ability to play through the center of the field, which is most often the fastest and most direct route to our goal. This involves closing down passing lanes and applying pressure on the ball carrier to force them away from central areas, and towards the sideline.

Forcing Play Wide: Every one of our defenders must work to channel the opposing ball carriers towards the sidelines, making it easier to defend against crosses and reducing our opponent's options for penetrating our defense centrally.

Limiting Options: By keeping play to one side of the field, defenders can limit the attacking team's passing angles and force them to play more predictably, making it easier to anticipate and intercept passes. Additionally, this helps to limit the amount of running our players are forced to do defensively.

Ball-Side Pressure: Players on the side of the field where the ball is located apply immediate pressure on the ball carrier, getting close to them to reduce time and space, and potentially win possession or force a mistake.

Weak-Side Cover: Defenders on the side of the field away from the ball must pinch in towards the center of the field to provide cover and support, ensuring there are no easy passing options or opportunities for a quick switch of play.

Winning Second Balls: Even if our initial press does not result in regaining possession immediately, our next goal is to win the second ball, which is crucial for maintaining pressure and preventing the opponent from settling into a rhythm.

Overall, maintaining a compact shape as a unit when out of possession and cutting the field in half are vital for our team as it helps to defend effectively, limit the opponent's attacking options, and create opportunities to regain possession and launch counterattacks. By implementing these strategies effectively, we can disrupt our opponent's attacking play, maintain defensive solidity, and create opportunities to regain possession and transition into attack.

You can find a full list of the John Jay Soccer Principles of Play here.

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