How We Play - North United SC

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.

SYSTEMS OF PLAY 9U-10U SYSTEMS OF PLAY 11U-12U SYSTEMS OF PLAY 13U-19U

SYSTEMS OF PLAY 9U-10U

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.

SYSTEMS OF PLAY 11U-12U

The 1-2-3-3 and 1-3-2-3 organizations are playing systems that should allow players to connect through lines. Players should be aware of the roles of the individuals in two connecting lines. The players should be fluid in mobility between lines on both attack and defense and recognize those roles in transition.

In attack, emphasis should be on spreading out, triangulating between lines, creating 2v1 and 1v1 situations and penetrating between lines.

Defensively continue to emphasize compactness, outnumbering of the opponent with the ball and providing cover to the pressing defender or defenders and consistently getting numbers behind the ball.

SYSTEMS OF PLAY 13U-19U

Within the 1-4-2-3-1 or 1-4-4-2, players should be aware of their positional roles on attack and defense as well as the roles of those around them and feel comfortable interchanging positions within the run of play. Players will gradually learn our clubs principles of play in 3 attacking phases, 3 defensive phases and 2 transitional moments.

Attacking principles of play will emphasize runners behind lines when our team faces forward without pressure as well as changing the point of attack quickly and efficiently.

Defensive compactness, both vertically and horizontally, as well as the value of pressing the ball as a unit based on situations throughout the field should be of importance to this age. Teams will learn the value of transitional shape and defending in all thirds of the field.