Soccer movement basics

Welcome soccer players and supporters! To kick things off, let's go to a real classic. This video comes from Howard Chang. https://vimeo.com/213286495. The video came out just 2 years ago and is already a fixture in the online soccer training world. Watch it a few times and make sure to understand the basic concepts of individual movement.
1. Always move.
2. Always look.
3. Don't always move straight.
Read on. There's lots more.
Now let's apply those simple concepts to team play.

1. Move into space

This is how you get open. It's also how you move defenders. Moving into space between defenders is critical for strikers to create opportunities for runs and through balls for other players.

2. Move diagonally

Moving up and down the field is exactly what the opposing defense wants. Most of our movement should be diagonal or transitioning from lateral to diagonal, or diagonal to vertical, because this puts us between defenders. Soccer is a zone defense sport. Play between zones and move between zones. We want to stress the defense by pulling defenders to the edge of their zones to open up space behind them.

3. Pass into space

This doesn't mean only pass to an open player in space. It means what it says. Pass into space. Often the player who will receive the ball is headed into space and moving to get the pass. Passing into space is just as important as passing to a teammate. If you pass to a teammate who isn't moving, by the time the ball gets there, defenders will be there too.  You need to put the ball into space that the player can reach. Pass the ball into space. Don't just pass the ball to a player! In the scenario below, notice the ball (yellow dotted line) is moving much faster than the players (black solid line). Player 1 passes into space. Player 2 is moving to get there and plays immediately to Player 3 who is moving into view. Before Player 2 gets the ball, he knows where his pass is going. In fact, he is moving into that space with the purpose of getting the ball to Player 3. When you are a midfielder you always get the ball with a purpose. Otherwise, why bother? I'm getting the ball to pass it to _____. You are a delivery person. Your job is to get the ball from someone to someone else. It's hot potato. Don't get caught with the ball at your feet or you'll be swarmed.

4. Know where EVERYBODY is ALL the time 

Howard says "Look around your area", but it is more than that. If I blow the whistle in a scrimmage and tell you to close your eyes, you should be able to point with your finger to where everybody on the field is, especially your team on offense and especially the opposing players when you are on defense. One of my favorite drills is the five second score. If an offensive player can raise their hand for five seconds without being noticed by the opposing team, that team scores a point.

4. No dribbling

There are rare exceptions, but don't kid yourself. 99% of the time you will only have time to trap the ball in a useful direction and play it into space. One or two touches is the way we move the ball. Most of the game is played without the ball. When younger players play soccer they think "the guy with the ball runs until he passes and then somebody else gets the ball and runs." This isn't American football. Soccer is completely opposite. EVERYBODY on the team moves, but the guy with the ball is under pressure usually and has less space.

In the scenario above Player 5 gets a pass from Player 4. If 5 traps the ball and is standing still, bad things will happen. Player 9 will rapidly close down. By the time Player 5 looks up, they'll be out of options and this may be a turnover in a dangerous spot. Instead, Player 5 traps the ball into space. The first touch is away from 9 and into space towards Player 11. Why 11? Because 11 already has a job. We usually trap the ball way from the nearest defender and sort of toward-ish the next defender. That puts pressure on the defense. 11 is guarding 6 but now 5 is coming at him. So now 11 has a choice. He can try to stop the pass to 2, 6 or 10 or go after 5 to get the ball. He can't do all of them, and 9 isn't going to get there before 5 can make a pass. Notice also how 10, 6 and 2 are all rotating the same direction--like the hurricane. 2 moves into space, making room for 6 to make a run to the touchline, making room for 10 to receive the ball in excellent position.

5. Play the way you are facing

This seems obvious. Notice 5 didn't try to play to the keeper. That's because the pass was in front. To stop and turn takes an extra step or two. Player 9 might read that and intercept. A midfielder can use a Xavi turn to move back into the space they've created when they moved to get the ball, but usually we are under pressure and can only direct the ball into space and make a pass. Turning into the defense when you are facing your own goal is a great way to lose possession.

Winger 7 plays inside to the striker 9. Player 9 moves toward the ball with defender 4 at his back. Defender 3 also moves in to pressure 9. In kid soccer #9 thinks "I'm a forward. My job is to score." 9 turns with the ball to attack the goal and it loses it to a double team from 3 and 4. If 9 isn't in position to score (clearly not), he has no business with the ball. So get rid of it. He can drop to 10 or 7. And if 7 makes a run he might be able to slot the ball into space behind 3. Imagine now what 9 can do without the ball. With 7 running on the sideline and drawing a defender, 9 can find a slot and move to receive a cross and score. This is a lot easier than trying to beat 3, 4 and 5 on his own. In the game, if the coach sees a player turning into trouble repeatedly and losing posssesion by trying to be a hero, he'll pull you out to have a talk. Forwards getting the ball from a mid at the half line then running down the field and scoring stops at about U9 recreation league soccer. 

Soccer team play movement basics:

1. Move into space. Or you won't get the ball.
2. Move diagonally. Or you'll be easy to guard.
3. Pass into space. Or your pass will be intercepted.
4. Look around. Know where the next pass will go before you or another player gets the ball.
5. No dribbling. 1 or 2 touches.
6. Play the way you are facing.