Basic Reference: Spacing with & w/out possession in different areas of the field

[James BrodieParticipant]

Regarding basics in simply getting points across to kids from a general reference standpoint

 

In our offensive half

What would you say roughly the vertical spacing is between the lines of players (backs to mids and mids to forwards)?

• With possession
• Without possession

What would you say roughly the horizontal spacing is within each of  the lines of players (between backs, between mids, between forwards)?

• With possession
• Without possession

 

In our defensive half

What would you say roughly the vertical spacing is between the lines of players (backs to mids and mids to forwards)?

• With possession
• Without possession

What would you say roughly the horizontal spacing is within each of  the lines of players (between backs, between mids, between forwards)?

• With possession
• Without possession

 

Thank you for your time,

James Brodie

[James BrodieParticipant]

Regarding this post, I want to mention that I have studied the information on the site regarding spacing when, for example, building out of the back as the ball swings from one player to the next prior to moving forward.

I aim in this post to gain basic referential information to get across to U14 boys regarding unitary compact movement with all lines considered to give them a holistic reference of understanding.

To play as one, we must move as one whether we do or do not have the ball.  I want the boys to understand basics regarding the movement as one unit relative to his position as well as place on the field.

Any insight would be appreciated.  I respect and appreciate your input and expertise.

Thank you for your time,

James Brodie

[Paul GruberParticipant]

I’m only going to take on one specific element and it has to do with the 2 attacking mids.  Often when we are defending on our end of the field, our 2 AM’s will come all the way back to “help” defend.  Normally I’m okay with this but often these players are in the way of back four and pivot.  Keep in mind there is also a keeper, so there are 6 players in the defensive third of the field “defending” and often we have numbers behind and around the ball.  Adding two more players (AM’s) creates a lot of congestion which I do not equate to being the same as being defensively compact.  Often when we “win” the ball defending, we’re in the way or the players the AM’s bring with them from the opponent plug our abilities in getting forward because there is too much congestion. 

Instead, and this depends on how the game is going relative to the opponent, I ask the AM’s to find space in between our forwards so when we do win the ball, we have someone we can play to when we clear it or combine to clear it.  There is usually a ton of space between the opponent back line and their attackers when the opponent has the ball because they are eager to score, motivated to because the ball is on our third of the field and if they are coordinated in their press, they are attempting to block our passing lines from our backs and pivot.  the obvious solution is to play over this with a medium pass into open space and having our AM’s there ensures our team has the ball and from there we can move forward out numbering our opponent in a counter. 

Assuming your backs and pivot are pinned within your penalty area and your forwards remain high relative to the opponent backs or midline, then your AM’s are in between this area which is about 40 yards long and the width of the field.  A 20-30 yard flighted pass is much easier than a bomb 40-60 yards out and with the spacing in this area, the AM’s can turn with/on the ball to find the three forwards to make the killer pass that breaks the opponent line or to combine with to beat the opponent CB’s. 

I preface this again that your team has to have decent players skill wise in the back field, have at least a couple of players that have the speed to recover and get goal side to the opponent with the ball, and have the mentality to know when to string the short pass and when a medium flighted pass is warranted based upon the opponent structure/pressure against your team.  One element, a couple of players (AMs), yet there are a ton of astericks that are important to understand and I don’t know if I even addressed this little element well.  However, this particular spacing issue has helped my team in terms of creating another solution to play out from our backs, either in possession or at the moment we win possession in transition from defense.

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