Spain Women and thoughts on ECNL

[Ellejustus]

How can we talk about possession soccer without going back to its roots. Last one for today.

Imagine soccer as an evolving art form. If that's the case, then "Total Football" would be its Renaissance period - grand, revolutionary, and the forefather to many styles we see today.

Before the rhythm of Tiki-Taka and the systematic dance of Positional Play, there was Total Football, making waves and causing raised eyebrows everywhere. Often celebrated as the "father" of possession soccer, Total Football is not just about having the ball but about creating an ever-changing canvas with player movements, morphing formations, and collective understanding.

So, how does it stand apart from its "offspring" - Tiki-Taka and Positional Play? Well, the essence of Total Football revolves around its fluidity: everyone can play everywhere. It's as if the whole team took a "do-it-all" potion. Defenders can become attackers, midfielders can slot into defense, and so on. This constant movement, combined with high pressing, makes it a double-edged sword - dominating possession while suffocating opponents.

Now, contrast this with Tiki-Taka's rapid passing sequences. While Tiki-Taka is all about lulling opponents with hypnotic short passes, Total Football is about the players themselves becoming the ball, shifting and rotating. And, when we bring Positional Play into the picture, which focuses on positioning and finding that "free man," Total Football integrates these principles but adds layers of player interchangeability.

Imagine playing musical chairs, but instead of sitting when the music stops, everyone assumes a new role in the team! That's Total Football for you.

Perhaps the most vibrant canvas painted by this style was by the **Dutch national team in the 1970s**. Guided by the maestro Rinus Michels and starring the artist Johan Cruyff, they showcased how Total Football was both an art and a science. They might not have clinched the World Cup, but their influence? Oh, it’s etched forever in the annals of soccer, laying the foundational principles for high pressing and fluid possession systems we witness today. The Dutch maestros might look down today and think, "We started that!"

I watched first few minutes and just love this style of futbol and the freedom to move around the pitch and not have other players yell at you or parents telling you to get back to your area of the field. Roam around and find the space. The other team was already getting tired and huffing and puffing like the stupid bad wolf. We got tricked with soccer is all I can say. If our youth leagues were like this, we could be done away with, "My dd plays the 10 and only the 10" or, "I play CM and that's it." First off, you go where coach tells you to go and you best better learn all the positions in real futbol is all I can say. One thing I hated about our youth system, all the top players parents and even some of the players demanded their dd play the 10 or the position that dad thinks is best. It's high time we start playing the game the right way. My dd has played all positions and is willing to play anywhere asked, just as long as she get's to play in the game. Total Football gives you total freedom to create and move about. Luis, has this style caused problems for selfish players on the team or do they unjust and not get all mad if a defender finds his way up top and tells the striker, "Hey pal, you had your chance to score and choked. I'm here now. Get your ass back on defense for a change and let me have a crack at it."

 

[Brav520]

I saw this video from Pep

he was talking about passing and how much he loves it and that it’s in his DNA/Culture

but it wasn’t just any passes , it was the 5-7 yard passes with constant movement of players. He talked about how the 20-25 yard passes just don’t work at the highest level, the ball takes too long to get to the players and the defenders are just too good for you to have any success

I thought , you know who loved the 20-25 yard passes ?, our USWNT at the WC

 

[whatithink]

Looks like posts are missing I put a nice explanation of the third man vs free man in positional play. Ohh well, it was good info. Anyways @Ellejustus congratulations I saw the pictures…

It was interesting, but a good press team blows it up, e.g. in your third man example the premise was that only the opposing 6 moves, but that's not what would happen - defender passes to mid, opposing 6 presses / opposing 9 slides over to cover the back pass, mid cannot pass to originator and likely has to pass to RB or across to defender on other side - conclusion is that the 8 (your third man) does not get the ball.

but it wasn’t just any passes , it was the 5-7 yard passes with constant movement of players. He talked about how the 20-25 yard passes just don’t work at the highest level, the ball takes too long to get to the players and the defenders are just too good for you to have any success

This is how you beat the press, but its really hard for obvious reasons.

 

[Ellejustus]

I was basically trying to show the difference between the Third Man and the Free Man as it can be confusing for people. Let me post again,

Third Man
In Guardiola's system, the "third man" concept isn't merely about forming triangles; it's also about creating overloads in specific areas to break down well-organized defenses. His teams use quick one-twos and third-man runs to bypass defensive lines. A key aspect of this is that the "third man" often starts his movement well before the initial pass is made, timing his run to offer a passing outlet that is virtually impossible to defend. This type of play is often rehearsed in training and is a staple in breaking down teams that defend in deep blocks.

Free Man
Guardiola's take on the "free man" concept often involves positional awareness and intelligence. Players are instructed to find space and become the "free man" in zones where they can either keep possession or create dangerous situations. Often, this involves midfielders dropping deep to create overloads, wingers cutting inside, or even center-backs advancing into the midfield. Guardiola wants his players to be aware of spaces and move into them dynamically, making it difficult for the opposing team to mark them.

Key Differences According to Guardiola:

• Fluidity: Guardiola’s system is highly fluid, and players are often seen rotating roles. A "free man" in one phase of play can become a "third man" in the next, depending on how play develops.
• Build-up Play: In the build-up phase, the "free man" is often a player in a deeper position, sometimes even the goalkeeper. Guardiola likes to use the goalkeeper as an extra outfield player to maintain numerical superiority against the press.
• Positional Discipline: Even though the roles are fluid, Guardiola insists on positional discipline. The "third man" usually emerges out of positional play that adheres to certain geometrical rules that create the conditions for overloads and third-man runs.
• High Press and Transition: Both the "third man" and "free man" concepts are not just used in possession but also in transitions and pressing. Guardiola's teams often use these ideas to win back the ball quickly or exploit spaces during quick counter-attacks.

Third Man (Arises from off the ball movement usually from moving the ball in triangles)
The "third man" often arises from off-the-ball movement. In this scenario, the player understands when and where to make the run to become the "third man" in a passing triangle or sequence. Timing and movement are essential, and the player must read the game well to find the spaces where he can receive the ball to either maintain possession or create a goal-scoring opportunity.

Example: #4 passes the ball to #9 which draws #6 defender to #9

View attachment 17954
#9 plays the ball back to # 4 creating the decoy for #8 to move off the ball into empty space

View attachment 17955
#8 is the Third Man as he just made a third man run
View attachment 17956



Free Man (Arises from positional superiority not moving off the ball from a triangle passing sequence)
The "free man," on the other hand, often arises from positional superiority. In a Guardiola system, this might mean the player is standing between defensive lines, making it difficult for the opponent to mark him without compromising their defensive structure. The player in this role must have excellent positional awareness and the technical ability to quickly distribute the ball once it's received. The player is unmarked with a lot of time and space to receive the ball and turn to keep advancing the ball forward.

The situation here is the #10 is sitting between the lines. The defensive line is not approaching him because they are trying to maintain their structure. They wouldn't want to leave #9 the striker alone in a 1v1. This is a clear example of #10 being the free man but not the third man.

View attachment 17957



In this scenario the Free Man and the Third Man are the same

View attachment 17958

View attachment 17959

Here the Free Man is Messi, assuming he drops down between lines and is standing free with space and time to turn but he is not the Third Man. Plyers 8,5,6 are making up the triangle

View attachment 17960

in essence:

• The "third man" is often about intelligent movement and timing, exploiting spaces left open by defensive movements or teammates dragging defenders out of position.
• The "free man" is more about smart positioning, standing in areas that either force the opponent to compromise their shape or offer a safe outlet for maintaining possession.

Both concepts aim to achieve positional superiority but do so in different ways. While the "third man" does so through dynamic movement, the "free man" achieves this through intelligent positioning.

[/QUOTE]
I like the sound of "free man." We had a player back in ASO days that was allowed to play anywhere he wanted. The name slips my memory, but he started behind the Mids but in front of the defense. Rover type player.

 

[Ellejustus]

In many of Pep Guardiola's tactical setups, the main objective is to find the "free man." By consistently finding a player who has managed to escape close marking, the team can maintain possession, stretch the opponent's defense, and potentially create goal-scoring opportunities. The "free man" often acts as a pivot or hub for circulating the ball and progressing it up the field.

Guardiola emphasizes positional play to create overloads and positional superiority, both horizontally and vertically. These overloads often lead to a "free man" emerging either between the lines of the opposition's defense and midfield or in wide areas where space has been created. This "free man" can then receive the ball and make a decisive action, whether it be a pass, a dribble, or a shot. The third man can always be considered the free man but the free man may not always be the third man. So finding the free man is one of the main objectives of positional play.

I played GK with a big time adult league back in the day. We played "free man" style bro. It's all coming back to me. We had this one player/coach/manager of the team and he also happen to be the free man. It was fun watching him control the subs and control the ball. He was sort of like a CM but was free to roam. He was the hub. This guy never stopped bro. He ran long distance and could challenge the Kenyans to a race. I mean this 100%. Dude never stopped moving around the field. He was truly the "free man." Great stuff Luis.

 

[Ellejustus]

@Ellejustus

Understanding the concepts of the "free man" and the "third man" can make the complexities of positional play much easier to grasp. Both terms essentially relate to the broader goal of creating numerical and positional advantages on the field, but they do so through different mechanisms—movement and positioning, respectively.

Understanding the Free Man:

• Advantages in Understanding: If you understand the concept of the "free man," you're better equipped to appreciate why teams make certain tactical shifts and positional adjustments. The quest to create a "free man" explains why teams may overload one side of the pitch, why midfielders drop deep, or why full-backs may venture forward.
• Game Reading: It helps in reading the game better, not just as a player but also as a spectator or analyst. When a team consistently finds the "free man," it's a sign of good tactical discipline and effective positional play.

Understanding the Third Man:

• Off-the-Ball Movement: Understanding the role of the "third man" helps you appreciate the importance of off-the-ball movement and how it can break defensive lines.
• Triangles and Passing Lanes: Recognizing the importance of the "third man" can also help you understand why certain passing lanes are exploited and how triangles are formed across the pitch to maintain possession and create attacking opportunities.

Broadening Positional Play Understanding:
When you combine these two concepts, you start to see how teams manipulate space and use positioning to both attack and defend more effectively. Understanding these elements will give you a deeper appreciation for the tactics employed by top-level coaches like Pep Guardiola. Positional play is all about creating favorable conditions for maintaining possession, progressing the ball, and ultimately creating scoring opportunities, and the roles of the "free man" and "third man" are integral to this approach.

Once these concepts are clear, the intricate ballet of positional play becomes far more understandable, offering a richer understanding of the strategies that unfold on the pitch.

Thanks

 

[LASTMAN14]

Yes, we do. I watch them all the time. But they are not being considered. They go overlooked and undervalued by US Soccer and college coaches. For example my two DD have played in a possession based system since day 1 and a few years ago literally before Covid their team played in Spain against the academy teams of Valencia, Osasuna, Athletico Madrid, Osasuna, Seville, and Lyon. We won playing the same way they do. I will point out a college player to watch at UCLA. She’s a defender and plays the 3. Quincy McMahon and she reminds me Olga from Spain. If US Soccer does not bring someone in like her…I just don’t know. None the less a system that works to develop players must be put in place to develop players. The current methods are inadequate and not cohesive.

Two more players I’ve been impressed with are Jordynn Dudley at FSU and Allison Kamansky at USF. JD is a prototype forward tall, athletic and fast. But what impresses me is her movement off the ball, knowing when to pass or dribble. She finishes well and can be physical. She is just a freshman and it will interesting to see if she continues to progress in the manner I hope to see. AK is an attacking fullback who races forward into the attack, connecting with her mids, and setting up opportunities for her forwards. Her defense is tenacious and she does like to take shots on goal.

 

[CoachReed68]

I agree that most are clueless when it comes to possession/positional play and the transitional phases. Our small club is dedicated to this style. It takes a while to get young teams clicking, but once it does, they do very well.

 

[CoachReed68]

We have the athletes but they lack the required technique and tactics.

Bigger, stronger, faster athletes are necessary for those teams that lack superior technical ability. If you can't beat them by possessing, then beat them by winning 50/50 balls. Sadly most clubs don't develop technical ability, and therefore, they will always pursue direct kickball with the best athletes, not soccer players.

 

[CoachReed68]

But... players that know how to do possession can switch to direct. Players that can only do direct can't switch to possession.

Exactly true!

 

[sockma]

Bigger, stronger, faster athletes are necessary for those teams that lack superior technical ability. If you can't beat them by possessing, then beat them by winning 50/50 balls. Sadly most clubs don't develop technical ability, and therefore, they will always pursue direct kickball with the best athletes, not soccer players.

You'll need the ability to win 50/50 balls to start your possession game.

 

[NorCalDad]

You'll need the ability to win 50/50 balls to start your possession game.

Well most coaches that focus on possession are running some variety of rondos, positional play, and training games. None of these are unopposed exercises. If they're executed with the proper amount of intensity (faster than match speed), the play off the ball should also improve. These exercises also cover technical training as the coach should be honing in on each player's technique (body position, footing, etc). Personally, I'd really struggle if my kids weren't receiving this kind of training. If I see my kids standing around, in lines, etc, I'd be pretty bummed out. I also can't stand seeing teams working on set plays, etc if the team's cognitive level isn't higher than most of their opponents. There simply isn't enough time to get the player's brains dialed in. No need to waste time on things that don't matter as much.

 

[whatithink]

You'll need the ability to win 50/50 balls to start your possession game.

No. Any high level team will use their press to force mistakes and turnovers. A good press doesn't even have to involve a tackle to force a turnover. Size is immaterial.

 

[LASTMAN14]

No. Any high level team will use their press to force mistakes and turnovers. A good press doesn't even have to involve a tackle to force a turnover. Size is immaterial.

Agree. Philosophically a possession team should be implementing a defensive press to retake the ball as quickly as possible.

 

[sockma]

No. Any high level team will use their press to force mistakes and turnovers. A good press doesn't even have to involve a tackle to force a turnover. Size is immaterial.

Yes, you use the press to force mistakes but when the mistakes result in a 50/50 ball, you have to win it most of the time. If your team is great forcing mistakes, but can't gain advantage from the mistake, then it's useless. You need both.

 

[Grace T.]

Well most coaches that focus on possession are running some variety of rondos, positional play, and training games. None of these are unopposed exercises. If they're executed with the proper amount of intensity (faster than match speed), the play off the ball should also improve. These exercises also cover technical training as the coach should be honing in on each player's technique (body position, footing, etc). Personally, I'd really struggle if my kids weren't receiving this kind of training. If I see my kids standing around, in lines, etc, I'd be pretty bummed out. I also can't stand seeing teams working on set plays, etc if the team's cognitive level isn't higher than most of their opponents. There simply isn't enough time to get the player's brains dialed in. No need to waste time on things that don't matter as much.

Nice post. Agree with a lot of what you say. A handful of random thoughts:
A. Rondos are 1 of those things lots of coaches like to do that makes them proud they are teaching possession play but which most tend to do very poorly. I can’t tell you the number of coaches I’ve seen that just tell the players to do Rondos and either check out (players are taking care of themselves) or don’t give specific instruction as to footwork, receiving, first touch and technical skill. The other big failing is what you point out: it has to be above game speed. The final big error is the circle rondo with 1 or 2 players in the middle…after elementary school you are wasting time with that one and it doesn’t give enough pressure…there are different rondos than the stupid circle ones
B. Especially on the boys, however, once they hit high school while this needs to be continuously practiced, by high school any team on the elite first or second tier really should have this done. The problem at this point is the goalkeeper is now tall enough to touch the crossbar and can cover all but the high corners of the goal. So scoring becomes a problem. Shooting it from the top of the 18 and scoring really comes rarely unless you catch the goalkeeper out or can hit that corner. It means scoring needs to be done some other way such as through balls, cutbacks, crosses and aerials that catch the goalkeeper out. It’s not easy either because the defense at this point usually has more men behind than attackers. And particular shapes are needed for penetration play. The emphasis needs to shift at that point
C. Again at the high school level, set plays are important. Corners and dfks represent some of the few opportunities to score and the gk and the defense need to practice (otherwise don’t complain against them when they give up the goal). There are technical heading issues which the attackers need to learn. While possession still needs to be trained it shouldn’t be the focus anymore and if something needs to be sacrificed it really should be shooting practice and conditioning (which by this point at least on the highest tier players should be doing on their own but usually don’t).
D. My no 1 pet peeve starting at the middle school ages is possession coaches who train possession constantly but then in the game expect the gk to switch to opportunity play (or worse hand the gk to the big legged defender). If you aren’t going to train it, don’t complain when the gk and defenders mess it up and don’t win the 50/50. Yes it’s easier to switch from possession to direct but it requires some practice and coordination.

 

[NorCalDad]

Nice post. Agree with a lot of what you say. A handful of random thoughts:
A. Rondos are 1 of those things lots of coaches like to do that makes them proud they are teaching possession play but which most tend to do very poorly. I can’t tell you the number of coaches I’ve seen that just tell the players to do Rondos and either check out (players are taking care of themselves) or don’t give specific instruction as to footwork, receiving, first touch and technical skill. The other big failing is what you point out: it has to be above game speed. The final big error is the circle rondo with 1 or 2 players in the middle…after elementary school you are wasting time with that one and it doesn’t give enough pressure…there are different rondos than the stupid circle ones
B. Especially on the boys, however, once they hit high school while this needs to be continuously practiced, by high school any team on the elite first or second tier really should have this done. The problem at this point is the goalkeeper is now tall enough to touch the crossbar and can cover all but the high corners of the goal. So scoring becomes a problem. Shooting it from the top of the 18 and scoring really comes rarely unless you catch the goalkeeper out or can hit that corner. It means scoring needs to be done some other way such as through balls, cutbacks, crosses and aerials that catch the goalkeeper out. It’s not easy either because the defense at this point usually has more men behind than attackers. And particular shapes are needed for penetration play. The emphasis needs to shift at that point
C. Again at the high school level, set plays are important. Corners and dfks represent some of the few opportunities to score and the gk and the defense need to practice (otherwise don’t complain against them when they give up the goal). There are technical heading issues which the attackers need to learn. While possession still needs to be trained it shouldn’t be the focus anymore and if something needs to be sacrificed it really should be shooting practice and conditioning (which by this point at least on the highest tier players should be doing on their own but usually don’t).
D. My no 1 pet peeve starting at the middle school ages is possession coaches who train possession constantly but then in the game expect the gk to switch to opportunity play (or worse hand the gk to the big legged defender). If you aren’t going to train it, don’t complain when the gk and defenders mess it up and don’t win the 50/50. Yes it’s easier to switch from possession to direct but it requires some practice and coordination.

Yeah this is in-line with my thoughts. I didn't want to get into the specifics around rondos, but you're spot on that there are many varieties of this exercise. And 100% if a coach isn't demanding the intensity then it's a waste of time. I see this probably 90% of the time when I observe various training sessions. It's a bummer to see. It comes down to caring, and let's face it, coaching competitive youth soccer is similar to being a teacher....you're not doing it for the money. I don't think many coaches have fully confronted why they're working in this space.

I don't mind teams working on set plays if they're cognitively in a good place. Working on corners is pretty irrelevant if you can't get the ball up the field. Since we don't have a soccer culture in the US a lot of that cognitive muscle needs to be built in the 4.5-6 hours a week a coach has with the players.

I absolutely can't stand when a team trains with a possession mindset and then goes and plays every match directly. What is even the point? To check the boxes for the club's requirements around methodology and then throw that out the window because you care too much about results? This may not be on the coach entirely as they may have external pressures around results, but it's a bummer to see.

 

[Grace T.]

I absolutely can't stand when a team trains with a possession mindset and then goes and plays every match directly. What is even the point? To check the boxes for the club's requirements around methodology and then throw that out the window because you care too much about results? This may not be on the coach entirely as they may have external pressures around results, but it's a bummer to see.

In one of my kids recent teams he was specifically brought on because he played a sweeper-keeper style the coach wanted to build from the back. Coach really understood possession, worked from the position that the kids (all vying for MLS Next) could play possessional, practices were possessionally oriented with all goalkicks short, and shortly before the HS age switched to offensive and defensive tactical formulations. Problem was the top kids got upset at being MLS futures, MLS reserves or not-MLS rosters so went on to other opportunities including quite a few that got MLS core slots. The replacements couldn't handle the ball as well and the defenders were actually afraid of taking the ball (which was weird....none of the kids in my son's much lower Latino league team are afraid of having the ball...but I guess they were afraid of losing it and then getting yelled at). So it began to go that they would play possessional the first fifteen minutes, one of the defenders would lose the ball, it would go in for a short 1v1 against the GK and half the time they'd go down 1-0 and have to switch long. The problem with long, however, is you have to train that too...the midfielder should be able to chest or foot the ball down into possession but if that's not practiced then they won't be able to do that either. So eventually, the parents rebelled and forced the coach into a direct style system (which hasn't worked all that better for them) and it was also the end for my kid (since it's not the system he's learned and comfortable playing). And this is in a backup league to MLS Next where standings ultimately didn't matter....imagine the result in a pro/rel system where the team is in danger of getting relegated. The parents also had the gaul to turn on the coach and claim he didn't know what he was doing (that he was relying on a much more seasoned assistant who left).

One story illustrates: in one game my kid kicks the goalkick short to the left CB, who has room and begins to dribble up the field. The press comes but the LB is afraid of the ball so has closed himself off and is yelling at the left CB to go long. My kid has taken position to the side of the goal forming a triangle between the left CB and the DM in support. The left CB sees the press coming so kicks it back towards the center of the goal for an own goal. The left CB then proceeds to yell at my kid for not being in the goal "like he's supposed to".

 

[NorCalDad]

In one of my kids recent teams he was specifically brought on because he played a sweeper-keeper style the coach wanted to build from the back. Coach really understood possession, worked from the position that the kids (all vying for MLS Next) could play possessional, practices were possessionally oriented with all goalkicks short, and shortly before the HS age switched to offensive and defensive tactical formulations. Problem was the top kids got upset at being MLS futures, MLS reserves or not-MLS rosters so went on to other opportunities including quite a few that got MLS core slots. The replacements couldn't handle the ball as well and the defenders were actually afraid of taking the ball (which was weird....none of the kids in my son's much lower Latino league team are afraid of having the ball...but I guess they were afraid of losing it and then getting yelled at). So it began to go that they would play possessional the first fifteen minutes, one of the defenders would lose the ball, it would go in for a short 1v1 against the GK and half the time they'd go down 1-0 and have to switch long. The problem with long, however, is you have to train that too...the midfielder should be able to chest or foot the ball down into possession but if that's not practiced then they won't be able to do that either. So eventually, the parents rebelled and forced the coach into a direct style system (which hasn't worked all that better for them) and it was also the end for my kid (since it's not the system he's learned and comfortable playing). And this is in a backup league to MLS Next where standings ultimately didn't matter....imagine the result in a pro/rel system where the team is in danger of getting relegated. The parents also had the gaul to turn on the coach and claim he didn't know what he was doing (that he was relying on a much more seasoned assistant who left).

One story illustrates: in one game my kid kicks the goalkick short to the left CB, who has room and begins to dribble up the field. The press comes but the LB is afraid of the ball so has closed himself off and is yelling at the left CB to go long. My kid has taken position to the side of the goal forming a triangle between the left CB and the DM in support. The left CB sees the press coming so kicks it back towards the center of the goal for an own goal. The left CB then proceeds to yell at my kid for not being in the goal "like he's supposed to".

This is a great anecdote and touches on a piece that many clubs don't focus on which is team culture. I can't stress enough how important this is. If you have parents on the sidelines saying things like "The coach doesn't know what he's doing, etc" you know this likely won't end well depending on how many ears that parent has. So much of this is parent education, but trying to change the "win-now" mindset is as hard as changing political ideologies. There's not much worse than a divisive parent group in competitive youth soccer.

For me, there's nothing much better than seeing a U10 team connecting 8-10 passes in a row. I don't even care what the results are at that point. I know, because I have younger and older kids, the results will follow.

 

[Grace T.]

This is a great anecdote and touches on a piece that many clubs don't focus on which is team culture. I can't stress enough how important this is. If you have parents on the sidelines saying things like "The coach doesn't know what he's doing, etc" you know this likely won't end well depending on how many ears that parent has. So much of this is parent education, but trying to change the "win-now" mindset is as hard as changing political ideologies. There's not much worse than a divisive parent group in competitive youth soccer.

For me, there's nothing much better than seeing a U10 team connecting 8-10 passes in a row. I don't even care what the results are at that point. I know, because I have younger and older kids, the results will follow.

Parents are the worst enemies of this. Here's another one you'll appreciate in the closing days of his experience with the team and the parents. So they go up 2-0 quickly...they play possession and the other team doesn't implement a high press which means the defenders are able to get the ball up. The coach has changed his emphasis by this point to attack and so they do very well and score 2 easy goals. The opposing coach calls for a high press. There are a couple of passes out the back that require heroic efforts from some players to keep it in (one of them is in kiddo's passing highlights vid which requires a clever open pass into space). But some players make mistakes: in short order by minute 30 they've had like 3 DFKS called against them, a PK which goes in, and like 4 1v1s most lost off the possession. Game is now 2-3 against us and my kid now starts rather than to kick everything direct and quickly to slow the game down in accordance with the instructions of his coach. He can tell the backline has lost confidence and every attempt to go long or short is going against us and the players are just shellshocked. He starts time wasting so the score doesn't get even more lopsided against us going into the half because we haven't been able to get the ball to the attacking third in the last 10 minutes. The parents start screaming at him: what are you doing...hurry up we are behind. He's trying to reorganize the team and get them to the half where they can talk to the coach without anymore damage being done and the parents are ready to murder him.

 

[whatithink]

Yes, you use the press to force mistakes but when the mistakes result in a 50/50 ball, you have to win it most of the time. If your team is great forcing mistakes, but can't gain advantage from the mistake, then it's useless. You need both.

Most mistakes from the press do not result in 50/50s. I don't understand your emphasis on this tbh. You do need to be positioned to take advantage of mistakes caused by your press, but that's about positional awareness and having a press that is organized.