In Support of the Cause: Developing support play from behind and in advance of the Ball

For those that work with the youngest of age groups it is no doubt a familiar sight to see virtually every player on the field swarming around wherever the ball is kicked. In many cases if the kids are having fun and getting plenty of exercise thats fine and they should be allowed to carry on enjoying the sport.
However, for those who want to develop into better players and/or coaches, its important to understand HOW to play the game. Many see the excitement of dribbling with the ball, or enjoy shooting on goal. Most know they have to try to pass to a teammate having been told of the virtues of keeping possession. But do they really understand the when, whys and how to use those skills and techniques? Where to go to best support players on the ball is one that requires an understanding of the game
Currently, the world is preaching the possession game, and many will interpret that as being able to pass the ball accurately, which of course is quite right. However, to be an effective passing team requires players to move into good positions to receive. which in turn means players having an understanding of spatial awareness. A colleague recently asked me if I thought we should coach more synchronized passing sequences so that the players would know where to go when the ball is in a particular position. My response was that unlike American Football where the majority of players are in set positions to initiate pre-planned plays, soccer is much more random, which requires more decision making and awareness. If we take the example of keeping possession with the intention of creating attacking play, the defending team are obviously going to have a strategy to prevent penetrative forward play. That will invariably be by pressing quickly, or by organized compactness. Consequently, our players have to be educated to understand that sometimes it may be necessary to go backwards before progressing forwards. The requirement, therefore, is that attacking players who are prevented by good defending from passing forward, should have teammates in support who can achieve three things:
Position at an angle to receive the ball. A player is not in a supporting position if he is behind an opponent and unable to receive a pass.
Position at an angle which makes a forward pass possible.
Position at sufficient distance which gives time to make the pass through as wide a range as possible.
Generally speaking deeper supporting positions not only relieve pressure on players with the ball, but are far less dangerous than square passes for players who position themselves level with those on the ball. Naturally, the supporting distance will vary depending on the area of the field. In more defensive areas its likely to be deeper, but in the attacking third where time will favor the defenders, nearby support to initiate quick combination plays will probably reap greater rewards.


Support for players on the ball doesnt always have to be from behind. And this is where the understanding and awareness of players is essential. The successful teams will more than likely have players who have understanding and ability in the following respects:
When to play behind the ball and when to move in advance
The rule of thumb is that if players on the ball are in a position to play forward, they do not need support from behind. Therefore this is a good time to make overlapping, diagonal or other movements in advance of the ball. Conversely, if the player on the ball has back to the opposition goal and is closely marked by an opponent it would be unwise to make forward runs past the player and therefore support should be at the correct angle and distance from behind.
When to play forward and when to play back
Players should be encouraged to play forward, but if under pressure shouldnt be afraid to pass back but then move to make a supporting angle to possibly receive again from the player on the ball.
When to pass across the field
Always calculating the risks, and therefo