Tactics are the way a team is organized and how the players work with each other. Tactics can make all the difference between two closely matched sides. When a less skilled side beats a better team, it can be luck, but is often more to do with team tactics.
Playing as a Team
Any player, no matter how good, is sill one out of eleven. You cannot just show up and play your own game of soccer. You are part of a team. This is the single most important principle of soccer tactics.
The whole team must play according to the same plan to ensure its success. When learning about tactics, it is helpful to know the correct terms. The most commonly used terms are shown below.
Soccer Terms
Center Striker or Center Forward– Plays in the center of the field and is the main goalscorer for the team. Right Striker or Right Forward– Plays on the right side of the field and is a goal scoring position. Left Striker or Forward– Plays on the left side of the field and is a goal scoring position. Center Midfield– Plays in the center of the field and assists both on attacking and defending. Right Midfield or Right Wing– Plays on the right side of the field and assists on both the attacking and defending ends. Left Midfield– Plays on the left side of the field and assists on both the attacking and defending ends. Right Defender– Plays on the left side of the field and plays defense to stop the opponents right striker from scoring. Left Defender– Plays on the left side of the field and plays defense to stop the opponents right striker from scoring. Center Defender– Plays in the center of the field and is the last defender before the goalkeeper. Goalkeeper– Only player that can user their hands and is the last person to stop the ball from going into the goal. Offsides– An attacking player is offside if there are less than two defenders between him/her and the goal at the time the ball is played in. Soccer Attacking– When a team is progressing forward towards the opponents goal. Soccer Defending– When a team is attempting to stop their opponent from scoring against them. Possession of the ball Free Kicks– When a penalty is called by the referee a free kick takes place at that spot. Penalty Shot– When a penalty is called inside the 18 yard box, a penalty shot is awarded. The team is awarded one shot against the goalkeeper. Throw-In– A soccer throw-in is awarded when a team kicks the ball past the out of bounds line. Kick Off– A kick off takes place at the very center of the field and happens at the beginning of the game or when a goal is scored.
Why don’t teams with the best players win all of their games? Because it’s a questions of how these players are used. A team must use its players in the best way possible. For example, a right-footed player may find it very difficult to play on the left.
Be Positive
Whatever tactics your team decides to use, you as an individual player must be positive about yourself and also your teammates and the game officials. Never give up. Your team can be outplayed for almost the whole game, but still get to score a late goal and win. That’s what makes soccer such an exciting game.
General Principles of Attack and Defense
Width and depth are both principles of offense and defense.
• Width in attack– the attacker tries to divide the defense by spreading strike points across a broad front, rather than attempting to force advances through narrow channels. This may involve play from the wings, or rapidly shifting into open lanes/open space when approaching the goal. Mainly using wingers, often gaps are made between defenders using the width. These gaps anc be used to feed the ball to strikers.
• Width in defense– the defender counters, trying to contract and deny width. Attackers are channeled into narrower or more crowded areas of approach.
• Depth in attack– the attacker uses depth by moving men up from the rear, but may use a constant “target striker” to always be present deep in the defense.
• Depth in defense– the defender also uses depth by marking supporting players in the opposing team, and holding back a man as cover for more advanced players, sometimes in a “sweeper” or “libero” role. Therefore the attacking player with the ball won’t have anyone open for a pass. Alternatively, defenders may abandon depth temporarily to set an offside trap.
• Balance in defense– The defense attempts balanced coverage of vulnerable space. Defenders do not simply cluster on the right side for example, just because the ball is there at the moment.
Playing as a Team