Playing with style
Your team can be play-makers or counter attackers
You may read this with some scepticism, but, whatever happens on the field, when your team are playing they are playing with style.
Yes, style. They may seem to be all over the place and not doing anything you practiced in training but watch what they are doing and identify the style.
The beauty of identifying the style they are playing is that it can help you solve problems that are occuring on the pitch. And it gives you a blueprint in training to tell your players what to do when they are in possession of the ball.
In simple terms you're playing one of these two styles:
- Counter attacking
- Play-making
The other great thing about identifying your style is that you can change it during a game. Instead of shouting "John you move there - Paul you go there and Ryan... Ryan where is Ryan playing?" you can just shout "COUNTER" or "PLAY-MAKING" - something that triggers your players mind to change what they are doing.
This is what the two styles do:
Counter attacking style
This style depends on your opponents carrying the game forward and for your team to react to their mistakes, which at youth level is quite often. Discipline and patience are key.
It is not as effective when your team is losing or if the other team is sitting back waiting for your team to do the work. Its downside is that it can lead to lack of initiative by your players so that they cannot turn the match in their favour.
Play-making style
This style forces your opponents into making the mistakes, your team controls the pace of the game and the atmosphere it is played in. It needs confident players who have been taught the basic skills.
Your team must work hard and be able to communicate with one another because if you lose control of the ball you get hit hard by a counter-attacking team. This is the hardest of the two styles to play.
During a game these are the things to look for:
The defensive function
The defensive function is the most important function in a team. The point where your team wins the ball is the point you begin your attacks and the style of you team comes out.
Building up
Once your team has won the ball they need a plan so that playing the ball through the midfield or sweeping it wide to wingers becomes natural to them. And don’t forget the long pass can be very effective in setting up attacks.
The attack
Plan your attacks carefully. Have your strikers ready to receive the ball. Can you spot a weakness in the opposition’s defence you want your players to exploit? It is good to take advantage of mistakes around the penalty area but better if your team is in control and has a plan.