Hey people, first time thread post so go easy on me haha. Just recently my friends and I started an indoor soccer team which only allows 4 players on the pitch, INCLUDING the goal keeper, so three outfield players. We aren't very technically skilled at all and ended up losing our grading match 16-3. There were glimpses of skills and ability but overall we lacked tactics to hold us together. I've tried researching 4v4 indoor tactics but have not found anything! Could any one please offer any ideas in terms of tactics, strategies, positions etc. 5v5 i could think of a tactic easily but 4v4 i am absolutely stumped!
It's really not the tactics. I'm not saying this to be mean or "not going easy on you". Tactics don't mean squat until you can dribble, receive, pass, shoot, and defend better than your opponent (all technical skills). Even at the highest level it's not a tactic that wins the games but individual ability. Out of curiosity what is your tactic that will work 5v5 but not 4v4. But if you really must, check out Bert Van Lingen's book Coaching Soccer. In it he outlines the framework for 4v4. You have to stop thinking of the set up as 3 field players and a goalie, it's 4 players in a diamond. The bottom player just happens to be able to use his hands. Learn these things called Principles of Play or 1st/2nd/3rd attacker/defender roles. These are the most basic ideas of how to play soccer, but in the end knowing all this stuff doesn't matter if you can't execute a pass or shot, receive a ball cleanly, or dribble well.
Cheers elessar78, it's something to start off with so i appreciate it immensely! i was thinking in a 5v5 to at least have two at the back to offer some sort of protection for our goalie. At the moment the first half consists of some one dropping back to help out after an attack but in the second half everything just goes haywire haha. But yes, thanks for giving me a kick start!
I'm inclined to disagree on the 'tactics aren't important' remark. I play indoor every week (5v5), not at a very high level (just friends). Of course individual ability matters, but what matters MUCH more is simply organization, passing and making useful runs. If a team is not functioning properly, a short organizational talk will usually get them back in the game. Stand in the right places, pass to the right people. Though I'm sure 4v4 is more about skill than 5v5, I can't believe skills are more important than tactics.
Yes my thinking too Arachas, we too are not at a very high level at all but SOME degree of organisation is required if we are to reach desirable results at one point or another. Thanks for your input
So you're saying by being organized you're going to turn a 16-3 loss into 3-0 win? I'd buy it if the score line were closer. "Tactics" may put you in the right places during the match, but without an acceptable level of technical ability it'll never be a functional team. A bad first touch and your teammates nice tactical run is all for naught. A bad shot and all your effort is for naught. Bad pass, can't dribble past a defender . . . render all the tactics in the world pointless. Saying "tactics is the answer" prevents you from taking a good look at yourselves as players. Getting more organized might bring the score lines closer, then what? You're going to get even MORE organized? It doesn't work that way.
lawl, good work buddy, you've totally done a backflip and now you actually do look like a fool by trying to put words into my mouth. You've totally misconstrued what is being asked here because your personal opinion has rendered you blind sighted to what I have stated. Not only did I mention we lost "OUR GRADING MATCH 16-3" which to most would indicate that the result of the "GRADING MATCH" would dictate the skill level of other teams we would verse in the future being similar to our own, you've actually undermined the idea of tactics all together, I'd beg to differ that a simple strategy that creates a well organised team CAN achieve results and I have seen it time and time again. Yes, I did agree that skills are of course important if not equally important that tactics, yet you continue to bang on about your own outdated theory which is applicable to youth football. Arachas was on the money. If you cannot provide the answers I seek or provide constructive criticism without making yourself look like a pious fool, I suggest you seek other threads to post on.
No I'll continue to post on this one because soccer is soccer. Outdated? I only know youth soccer? Get over yourself. Look your mental abilities may be that of an adult but if you're playing abilities are that of an 11 year old, then guess what level of instruction is suited for you? You're problem is that you come on here looking for people to just echo what you want to hear. Go ahead. Find your tactics that will make you into a decent team. Come back after the season and post your record. We'll see who is right. Contrary to what you believe or choose to read into, I'm trying to help you. All the tactics in the world will not tackle a ball, make a pass, or put it in the net for you. It's the truth about soccer since the advent of the sport.
sorry mate, I come on here looking for advice on what I asked for, not local youth girls soccer team coach with a blog that no one looks at because your coaching soccer in america. LOL... mad life aspirations buddy. you 34 year old girls football coach you
i agree with elessar. with 4v4, there are too few players and the field is too small for a truly tactical game. in other words, everyone on your team has to defend, and everyone on your team has to attack. and you need 1v1 skills because you have fewer passing options. to me, being "organized" in such a small-sided game doesn't mean tactically organized--instead, it just means everyone knows basic principles of play. (on offense, don't just ball-watch. you have to move to get open.) (on defense, don't just ball-watch. nearest to ball has to apply pressure. everyone else has to mark.)
