Soccer Turn The Defender


A misdirection soccer play with the objective of causing a soccer defender to turn by using a decoy run or a pass. Wall passes are a very good way to “turn the defender” in soccer. (See “Commit The Defender – Soccer” & “Soccer Channel” for the definition of turning the attacker).


Soccer Short Game


(aka Short-Ball Game, Controlled Game or Indirect Attack). Style of offensive play based on short passes (See “Long-Ball Game“).


Soccer Short Corner


A soccer corner kick where the soccer ball is put into play with a short pass instead of a long soccer kick. Once put into play, the “Offside Rule” applies. (See “Corner Kick” and “Long Corner“). See “Short Corner Set-Play & Corner Kick Attacking Strategies” on Premium.


Soccer Short


To play “short” means to play soccer with fewer than the allowed number of soccer players.


Soccer Shoot-Out


When a soccer game is tied and time has run out, a “shoot-out” is one way to break the tie (another is to play overtime periods). A shoot-out is similar to a soccer penalty kick, except the soccer players must all stay in the middle of the field. Each team will receive a certain number of chances to score.


Soccer Shoot


See “Drive“, “Pass“, “Chip“, “Flick Pass” & “Toe Kick“.


Soccer Shift & Sag


A convenient term for describing what you want your soccer players to do on defense. It has 2 meanings:

First, as attackers move the soccer ball around the field, defenders should be constantly shifting to maintain good defensive coverage and the soccer players farthest from the ball should “sag” back so they are in position to stop an attack on goal (this provides additional “depth” & concentration of defenders between the soccer ball & the goal). This creates “multiple layers” of defenders in a position to stop an attack on goal. For example, if the soccer ball is on the left side & the LF is the First Defender, then the LMF should be a Second Defender, the CF should also be a Second Defender, & the LFB should be the Third Defender. The CF should shift so he is within 5 – 7 steps of the soccer ball & “sag” back a little so if the onball attacker tries to go to the left of the LF the CF is there to stop the penetration. The CMF should also “shift & sag” so he is between the CF & the goal (i.e., 10 – 15 steps behind the CF), & the CFB should do the same behind the CMF. On the right side, the RF should sag behind the CF, but not go past the center of the field (i.e., the imaginary line between the goals), etc. These relationships are shown in the diagram below. If the soccer ball were on the right side, it would be reversed. Note that all defenders don’t try to stay precisely between the soccer ball & the goal (if they did you would have no “width” & your field “coverage” would be poor); however, they are in position to “recover” in time to stop an attack on goal.
Second, when a team loses the soccer ball, the players nearest the soccer ball should stay & try to be “First or Second Defenders” & slow down the attack. But all others should quickly “sag” back toward their goal (i.e., “Recover”) to create multiple layers of defenders. This doesn’t mean that everyone runs back in front of the goal; if they do it just makes it easy for the attackers to reach your Danger Zone. A rule of thumb is that the Fullbacks should drop back far enough that a long chip pass won’t go over their heads. Also, keep in mind that even when the FB’s have sagged back near their goal, you must leave some MF’s & F’s outside the Penalty Box in a position to win cleared balls & to receive passes so you can counterattack. If all your players are in the Penalty Box you won’t be able to get the ball off your end of the field.
(See “Defense“, “Depth“, “Support“, “Support Distance & Relative Position” “Formations“, “Zone Defense“, “First Defender“, “Recover“, “Funnel” “Mark” & “Pressure“).


Soccer Shift


Attackers & defenders should constantly be shifting (as the soccer ball moves) so they are in a position to provide “support” or “cover”. (See “Support“, “Cover“, “Shift & Sag” & “Support Distance“).


Soccer Shield


(aka Screen). When a soccer player legally positions his body so the defender can’t touch the soccer ball without fouling. (e.g., The ballhandler shifts the soccer ball to his foot that is farthest from the defender, stays low with his knees bent & feet apart so he can’t get easily pushed off the soccer ball & stiffens the arm nearest the defender; the arm can’t be used to push the defender but it can point down & slightly out so he’s ready to withstand a “Shoulder Charge”). See “Strength On the Ball” & “Shoulder Charge“.


Soccer Shepherding


(aka “Jockeying”). See “Jockeying“.


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