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Tactical Question - Positioning Back Line on Youth Team?
Posted on 8/24/15 at 5:22 pm
Posted on 8/24/15 at 5:22 pm
Had a question regarding my daughter's youth team (U16). Their current team make up finds their primary formation with 4 across the back. Apart from moving a forward or winger to their defenders are very deficient in the speed department. With limited options, are you better served by playing the faster of the "slow" defenders at the center back positions or at the outside back positions?
Not that such a decision is mine to make (that will fall into the hands of the "Professional" trainer), I was interesting in getting some opinions from the solid body of footballers who frequent thus board. :)
Not that such a decision is mine to make (that will fall into the hands of the "Professional" trainer), I was interesting in getting some opinions from the solid body of footballers who frequent thus board. :)
This post was edited on 8/24/15 at 6:09 pm
3
Posted on 8/24/15 at 6:00 pm to MUMFORD
I'd play your best and fastest defender as a sweeper, stack the next best defender, in front of her, as a stopper {primarily responsible for the center forward}, but also used to break up attacks else-where. The slowest defenders should provide the wing coverage and position them a little more to the inside of the field, so as to "funnel" most attacks towards your best defenders. Outside mid-fielders should be encouraged to track back and help defend, at all times.
Posted on 8/24/15 at 6:12 pm to MUMFORD
Put your fastest player on the team at sweeper. Put your most aggressive player on the team at stopper.
Posted on 8/24/15 at 6:20 pm to tickfawtiger
Thanks. The team had some decent turnover from the spring and were playing together for the 1st time this weekend. I know the trainer wasn't trying to be too tactical, but it was frustrating watching mutiple games where teams simply were playing "long balls" to the forwards and making it a track meet. Sadly, the trainer was playing arguably the 2 slowest defenders at the center back position --- and it was hard watching them in a trail position time and time again. Good thing these were basically friendlies. Just hope that major adjustments are made to the defensive structure in time for the regular season.
Posted on 8/24/15 at 6:21 pm to SwaggerCopter
quote:
Put your fastest player on the team at sweeper. Put your most aggressive player on the team at stopper.
Thanks!
Posted on 8/24/15 at 6:24 pm to MUMFORD
Is this a rec league or select?
Posted on 8/24/15 at 6:35 pm to hendersonshands
quote:
Is this a rec league or select?
Select
Posted on 8/24/15 at 6:41 pm to MUMFORD
Then I wouldn't necessarily consider speed to be the biggest contributing factor to the position of the girls. I'd want my two smartest defenders in the middle. Your center backs, ideally, should hardly ever be in 50 yard foot races with people. Their coach should be teaching them optimal positioning. For instance, your "back 4" should never be flat, even if it's called a "flat back 4."
All things being equal, you'd want stronger girls in the middle and faster girls at the outside back spots so that they can help in attack without sacrificing their defensive duties.
All things being equal, you'd want stronger girls in the middle and faster girls at the outside back spots so that they can help in attack without sacrificing their defensive duties.
Posted on 8/24/15 at 6:51 pm to hendersonshands
quote:
All things being equal, you'd want stronger girls in the middle and faster girls at the outside back spots so that they can help in attack without sacrificing their defensive duties.
I agree, but it sounds like he has a slow team. A sweeper with a ton of speed who plays well and keeps people in good spots can cover a ton of problems.
Posted on 8/24/15 at 7:07 pm to SwaggerCopter
Once you get a little older a sweeper can become a hindrance. A smart team will stretch your defense out beyond repair. JMO, but I wouldn't have a sweeper when the kids get to high school age.
Posted on 8/24/15 at 7:08 pm to hendersonshands
With guys, I agree. Sweeper stops working. Not sure if it really ever does with girls. 
Posted on 8/24/15 at 7:10 pm to SwaggerCopter
quote:
I agree, but it sounds like he has a slow team. A sweeper with a ton of speed who plays well and keeps people in good spots can cover a ton of problems.
While there are some very fast girls on the team, the primary defenders are simply not fleet-footed. But to Henderson's point these defensive players are smart, experienced and typically know what to do once they engage an attacker. The problem occurred mainly when the defenders allowed a player up top to receive the ball in space or simply balls being played long. Some of the issues are positional (including the goalie) and likely can be corrected by the trainer.
Posted on 8/24/15 at 7:15 pm to MUMFORD
quote:
The problem occurred mainly when the defenders allowed a player up top to receive the ball in space
That's on coaching. You have 2 center backs and usually 2 center mids for a reason. I don't think it's a speed issue. The girls should know who's stepping and who's covering whom.
Posted on 8/24/15 at 7:29 pm to hendersonshands
I miss club days when I was a youngster. We ran the offside trap all day long. I played with the same back four for like 8 years. Eventually, we barely talked back there.
Posted on 8/24/15 at 7:49 pm to hendersonshands
quote:
That's on coaching. You have 2 center backs and usually 2 center mids for a reason. I don't think it's a speed issue. The girls should know who's stepping and who's covering whom.
In hindsight, I tend to agree. In fairness, the trainer is new to the team and appeared to take more of a hands off approach. In addition to being frustrated (two 2-1 losses and a 3-3 draw), I really felt bad for those young ladies as they were consistently out of position and were taken advantage of by some fleet forwards. Of 7 goals conceded during the weekend 4 were due to balls played "over the top" (truly it should have been more than 4).
At the U16 Select level, there should not be "parental coaching", but by the 3rd game I was getting tenmpted. :)
This post was edited on 8/24/15 at 7:53 pm
Posted on 8/24/15 at 7:57 pm to SwaggerCopter
quote:
I miss club days when I was a youngster. We ran the offside trap all day long. I played with the same back four for like 8 years. Eventually, we barely talked back there.
Not sure why, but this tactic has not been emphasized much with this team. I'll have to ask the trainer for his perspective.
Posted on 8/24/15 at 8:41 pm to MUMFORD
Only con is that the side refs can really screw you. But once we did it all of the time, I found that we usually got the benefit of the doubt. We would all just stop and throw our hands up. I definitely remember having to bust my arse to recover a couple of times when it wasn't called.
Sorry for the nostalgia about my shitty soccer days. I miss it.
Sorry for the nostalgia about my shitty soccer days. I miss it.
Posted on 8/24/15 at 9:16 pm to SwaggerCopter
No apology needed. I am slowly approaching that point where I will be recalling much of my daughters' playing days as a matter of "nostalgia". Carry on! :)
This post was edited on 8/24/15 at 10:52 pm
Posted on 8/24/15 at 9:57 pm to MUMFORD
I find it interesting that the OPs complaints are slow backs and many people said to solve the problem by going to a 3 back where they are man marking in more space.
HH had, easily, the most sound logic.
HH had, easily, the most sound logic.
Posted on 8/24/15 at 10:12 pm to GeorgeTheGreek
Yeah. It would make no sense at all to stretch your defense out even more, given his complaints. If I play a team with a sweeper, I'm keeping a striker high and I'm hitting some balls over the top. You're playing with fire, especially if you have speedy wingers who can get in behind the fullbacks.
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