SYTLE OF PLAY
Mission
In all areas, North United Soccer Club will work in the best interests of players, club and family to accomplish the following:
- A development based program that will provide a player pathway through soccer.
- Create good people. Our club will produce people of character who see value in giving back to their community and the game of soccer in the present and future.
- Create a community of soccer which has a sense of family, loyalty and identity.
Philosophy
Our focus is to develop players who can play anywhere on the field, treating them so they never want to leave soccer. This requires players to make decisions and applying technique in many different moments. Individuals are accountable to the group while being able to display joy and freedom.
4 PHASES OF THE GAME
STYLE OF PLAY
Our style of play consists of two main themes with and without the ball; Counter-Attacking Possession and Counter-Pressing to Transition. We want players for 9U-19U to be able to display these ideas in a team and individual format.
The style of play will look different at different developmental stages, but each stage will still aim to display Counter-Attacking Possession and Pressing to Transition. At the youngest age groups, the main ideas will be developed and ingrained. As players get older the ideas and methods will become slightly more advanced. These themes may not produce wins at younger age groups but as players progress under these ideals, they will become more complete players and teams will be more apt to winning in the performance phase.
COUNTER-ATTACKING POSSESSION
- Can we transition quickly to score? If not, take care of the ball with a purpose connecting 5 or more consecutive passes numerous times throughout the game.
- Play through the lines via player movement between the lines and in opposite lanes is important to keep the ball.
- Play out of the back and use the midfield to build possession in the attacking half.
- Creativity encouraged in all players.
COUNTER-PRESSING TO TRANSITION
- Can we keep the ball in the attacking half as much as possible?
- Team/Individual recognition of when to press.
- Defend high to regain possession.
- Organized defending if we don’t win the ball right away.
NUSC AGE GROUP SYSTEMS OF PLAY
Explanation and model of the expected team formation (system of play) teams should be using at each age.
Within the 1-2-3-1 or 1-3-2-1, players should be aware of their positional roles on attack and defense, especially in counterattacking and defending. When the team is attacking from its defensive third or building out from a goal kick or keeper distribution, players should be aware of spacing between lines.
The principle of spreading out and body position should be recognized by the players. It brings out triangles in attack.
Defensive compactness, both vertically and horizontally, as well as the value of the first defender in pressing the ball throughout the field should be of importance to this age.