Successful Soccer Podcast
Episode 006 – Space
Direct Download of Episode SS006 – Space
OR
Copy this url into your podcast application:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/SuccessfulSoccer
SPACE – Show Notes
To keep it simple I am going to talk about USING & CREATING space
Very straight forward
USE-> Run into open space
CREATE-> Run to make space where you were. Perhaps pull a defender
Start with USING
As discussed in Episode 1, to me running is the big thing in soccer
Typically don’t want to be standing still
Want to move into an open space
Receive the ball in the space doesn’t have to be a ton, just away from dangerous defenders
Places to find space
Between defenders, especially when the team is playing a zone.
Look between center & wide players
Look between lines or defenders and midfielders, strikers & mids
Look wide of everyone
Look for balls played behind players that you can run onto
Typically space behind the person with the ball.
Don’t be directly behind, be at an angle
Sidenote: also think what happens if your teammate looses the ball.
Be in a supportive position
Remember to go to a space that the ball can be played into
Have seen players want a ball that would have to go through a person to get to the space
Front line can’t run offside, so how they ask?
Run horizontally along or just in front of the defense
Perhaps even bend the run a little to make sure you stay on side
So for example.
Right mid has the ball on the line and the striker is in the center of the field
If the striker wants the ball down the right sideline, must run along the line of the defenders
The Mid can play the ball down the right sideline, then the attacker breaks and turns his run up field.
Remember offside is when the ball is played
Another great place to find space is a step or more closer to the ball
If everyone just runs towards the goal they are attacking, there is a lot of kick an run, in my opinion, this is not soccer
Take a quick step towards the ball, this does a couple things
Moves you into space, increases the distance between you and defender and may actually create space where the defender is or was.
Develops into the classic Short-short-long
What a segue into CREATING space.
Too many people only want to USE space for their own personal opportunities.
A high level player will understand it is just as important if not more to create space.
Creating space is just what is sounds like. Running to move yourself out of space and create space for (more than likely) someone else. A s-s-l may create space for yourself. WE will get to that.
Think of the example from earlier. If the striker in the center of the field is marked and runs toward the sideline, more often than not a defender will go with him or her. If not the whole way at least for a moment.
If the defender follows the striker who is moving wide, space is created where that striker and defender were.
A team that works together can capitalize on this opening and send the other striker into that position or maybe a midfielder or even a defender who would most likely be unmarked.
The space does not have to be huge, just enough to give a teammate the space to get the ball.
If soccer isn’t a game of inches, it is definitely a game where a couple of feet can make all the difference.
So although the player getting the ball in the open space may look like the hero, it is actually the initial striker who created the space that deserves a lot of the credit.
This is just one example of CREATING space, there are millions of different opportunities in every game. Start looking for them and figuring out how to be a complete player by creating more space than you use.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Thanks for listening
Who will be the first person to review Successful Soccer in itunes. I don’t care if it is good or bad, as long as it is useful information.
Always thanks to
Music – Jeff Woolsey FREAKNO
www.sonicduderanch.com
The next podcast should be up soon because I already have a topic thanks to Taylor from Lexington, SC
Talk to you next time on Successful Soccer