Playing Direct
Tactics alone will not win soccer matches. Teams who wish to be successful must possess individuals with good technique and understanding of the principles of play. When playing direct, meaning as few passes as possible to get into the opponents defensive third and produce a strike on goal, quality long range passing is crucial. It is a fact that 85% of goals come from 5 passes or less (Charles Hughes study 1990).
1. Direct play involves getting as many entries into your attacking third as possible. Sometimes even playing for opposition throw-ins to lock them into a quarter of the field.
2. Having got into the attacking third, try to get your team to retain a good shape, close together, compact.
3. We must get more strikes on goal, get more set plays than our opponents, and deliver more passes into the danger area.
If we win the ball at the edge of our attacking midfield third the odds are that we can produce a strike on goal with five passes or less.
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