Tactical soccer ball
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If we take the same player as we did before, number four, we can see that they now have access to potential passing lanes to all players in this area of the pitch. As a result, several triangles and diamonds have formed, an indicator that the positioning will allow for effective ball circulation. Here, there are no more than two players in the same horizontal or vertical line, maximising the number of passing options available to each player. In contrast with the previous example, this is a good example of positioning that will enable the team in possession to keep the ball. This makes it much easier for the opposition to block off passing lanes, thereby increasing their chances of intercepting a pass.
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Here, there are four players in the same horizontal line.Īs we can see here, numbers nine and 10 cannot be played to from number four as they are positioned directly behind number eight. The above graphic exhibits an example of bad positioning. To achieve this, we don’t want several players in the same horizontal or vertical line of the pitch, as this will limit the number of passing lanes available to each player. To do so, we want each player in the overload to have as many passing options as possible. One further key aspect of this overload that we are creating is that we need our players here to be able to maintain possession of the ball in order to engage the opposition and allow time for them to be drawn to one side of the pitch. Were the number 11 to move wider, the full-back would be forced to follow, shifting the defensive line to one side of the pitch. Since the full-back can mark both players, the defensive line can remain central.
![tactical soccer ball tactical soccer ball](https://soccer-coaches.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/02.png)
The same situation occurs with our number nine and 11 on the opposition left-back. This enables the opponent’s number 10 to mark both players at the same time. Both our eight and 10 are positioned near to each other. In the graphic above, there are two clear examples of poor positioning. In order to occupy as many opposition defenders as we can on the ball-near side, we must ensure that the spacing between our players in the overload is as efficient as we can make it. We can now see how we can potentially start creating a 2v1 overload on the fullback on the far side, with our wide forward positioned narrow and our fullback staying high and wide. The effect of this is that it forces the opposition’s defensive line to be pulled towards the ball-near flank. To create more space on the opposite flank, our striker (number nine), can drift to the side of the pitch that we are overloading. Whilst the opponent’s block has been forced to shift over, there isn’t a significant enough increase in space on the opposite flank for us to exploit. This would be the most likely reaction from the opponent, which involves the ball-near pivot shifting across to cover the number 10. Here we can see how we can create a five-person overload on one side of the pitch by the 10 simply shifting across.
#Tactical soccer ball free
The benefit of this player is that they are free to shift to either side of the pitch in possession to help create an overload. The 4-2-3-1 is a common environment to allow the use of the concept of overloading to isolate since it has a ‘number 10’. The red team, the opposition, are also lined up in a 4-2-3-1 structure, which looks more like a 4-4-1-1 out of possession as shown. In the above example, we, the blue team, are lined up in a 4-2-3-1 system in possession. Therefore, we must discuss the most effective ways of doing so. The objective of the players in possession on the overloaded side is to occupy as many opposition players as possible to create the maximum amount of space on the opposite side by dragging opponents over. The first key point to discuss in this technique is setting up the actual overload. The importance of the positioning of the players in the overload This tactical analysis piece of tactical theory will explain why overloading to isolate is such a popular strategy to use in possession, and how teams use certain tactics to be able to perform it.
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The basis of this technique is to overload one side of the pitch in order to drag the majority of the opposition to that side, thereby opening up space on the opposite side of the pitch. Overloading to isolate is a tactical concept that is utilised by many coaches, including the likes of Pep Guardiola with Manchester City of the Premier League and Erik ten Hag with Ajax.