Soccer presentation to give players a question and answer based approach to their roles on the pitch.

1. By Phil Kirby
Twitter@coachesfriend1

2. Knowledge should be shared openly
amongst coaches and players alike. Even
on the playing field thus increasing the
amount of coaches/players looking to
find the next improvement.

3. With this document I am hoping to show players who I work with a simple
set of general indications of what is expected of them in certain situations.
I am not trying to tell them what they have to do, but rather give them an
idea that they can take on board and use how they see fit.
I am not trying to play the game for the players!
I am not trying to create robotic players!
I am trying to give them a deeper understanding of what I expect of them.
I am trying to give them ownership of a concept.
I would like them to take on these ideas and put their own twist on them.
I would like them to buy into these ideas and work together to grow as
a unit. TEAM= Together Everyone Achieves More

5. Do we have the ball? If the answer is Yes what are we going to
do with the ball?

6. • Can we play a forward pass?
• Can we make movement to allow a forward pass?
• Where is the space? Can we find it?
• How quickly can we break forward and attack?
• Can we get numbers out quickly to advance into
there half of the pitch and create overloads?
• Can we make the pitch nice and wide to create even
more space to play into?
• Can we move the ball from our half while keeping
possession?

7. The opposition have the ball in our half how should
we proceed?

8. • Can we stop a forward pass?
• Can we make movement to deny a forward pass near our
goal?
• Where is the space? Can we cut out the space?
• How quickly can we pressure the ball to break up the
attack?
• Can we get numbers behind the ball quickly to stop them
advancing closer to our goal.
• Can we make the pitch nice and compact to deny them
space to play into?
• Can use our body shape to show them into areas of less
threat?
• Are you the nearest player to the ball? If you put them
under pressure can you win the ball back?
• Can you talk to your teams mates to encourage their
actions? Can we be ORGANISED?
• Have you enough support from your team mates?

9. Pressure should be applied in all areas when we are not in possession
but in our own half it becomes more critical.

11. Do we have the ball? If the answer is NO what are we going to
do to win the ball back?
• Can we stop a forward pass?
• Where is the space? Can we fill it?
• How quickly can we pressure the ball to break up the attack?
• Can we get numbers behind the ball quickly to stop them
advancing closer to our goal.
• Can we make the pitch nice and compact to deny them space
to play into?
• Can use our body shape to show them into areas of less
threat?
• Are you the nearest player to the ball? If you put them under
pressure can you win the ball back?
• Can you talk to your teams mates to encourage their actions?
• Have you enough support from your team mates?
• Can we win the ball back while their still in their own half?
• Can we force them to play backwards?
• Can we talk each other through this phase of play?

12. Areas we want to play into to and put the opposition
team under pressure to try to score.

14. Do we have the ball? If the answer is Yes what are we going to
do with the ball?
• Can our first pass/touch be forward?
• Can we make movement to allow a forward pass?
• Where is the space? Can we find it? Can we play into it?
• Can we get numbers to support our attack?
• Can we create space to allow us pressure their goal?
• Can we run at their players if no support is present? Or are we
okay with holding up the play?
• Can we make space to cross?
• Can we make runs into their box if crosses are impending?
• Can we move the ball between ourselves until space becomes
available to attack?
• Are we in a rush? Can we create a steady build up or are we
counter attacking?
• Can we talk each other through the attack? Are you the best
route of attack? Should you call for the ball?

15. What I perceive to be the right thing and what you perceive it
to be could be two different things! For this let’s say the right
thing is anything that is in the best interest of our TEAM.
Even the best players don’t do the Right thing every time!
Don’t be to hard on yourselves if you make a mistake, rectify
your mistake don’t be the player who stands there watching
their mistake unfold. Compose yourself and shake it off.
As a team, when a teammate inevitably makes an error (We all
do) help him rectify it! Criticism will not fix the error any
quicker! But team work will.
If you feel your team mate could do something better,
Encourage him that next he will do the Right thing.
TEAM=Together Everyone Achieves More.

16. • Defending• Defending
• Attacking• Attacking
In your
own half.
In the
opponents
half.
In the
opponents
half.
In your
own half.
Time spent in transition.
• Are we attacking.
• Are we defending.
• Are we in our own
half?
• Are we in their half?
• Should we take risks?
• Should protect
possession?
These are all valid
questions that need to
be answered in your
head at all times.
It seems quite daunting.
Twitter@coachesfriend1

17. Any moment of the game.
Defending in either half.
Can we force them to play
the ball back the way?
Who’s nearest to the ball?
Close the player or the
close the space.
Can we organise our shape
becoming compact and
hard to break down?
Talk each other through these steps. Let’s try to chase in packs and
recover the ball in the least amount of time we can.
How quickly can we apply
Pressure?

18. Any moment of the game.
Attacking in either half.
Can our first touch/pass
be a forward one?
Can we create space to
shoot or cross? If a ball is
being crossed can we be in
the position to receive?
Can we break quickly as a
unit?
Do we have to force our
play? Can we use slow
build up or is speed key for
this moment?
Talk each other through these steps. Let’s try to attack as a unit.
Make space for each other, Make runs even just to create space.