The Principle of Plays are the general concepts that cover all aspects of a soccer game. They are extensions on the peewee training principle of SCORE goals and STOP goals. There are 10 principles, split into whether team is in possession of the ball or not.  

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IN POSSESSION (Attack)

• Penetration - Penetration focuses on playing the ball through, around or over your opposition. Examples include passing to a teammate or dribbling the ball between players. The aim of penetration is to move your team further up the pitch and closer to the opposition’s goal. 

• Creating Space - creating space is about spreading out. Your team should organise themselves in a way that 'opens up' the pitch. Ideally, you want players to move into high, wide and deep positions. This tactic will stretch your opposition's defence.

• Movement - this principle focuses on getting into useful positions. The aim is for players to create opportunities to receive the ball. Movement can be a small adjustment, like stepping backwards away from an opponent. It can also be much bigger and more intense, like sprinting behind the defence.

• Support - providing support is about giving your team options – and helping them keep the ball. The idea is for players to move into positions that enable them to receive a pass. This could be behind, alongside or in front of their teammates.

• Creativity - creativity helps your team solve in-game problems and it can happen anywhere on the pitch. Your players could get creative on, near or even away from the ball. A great example of creativity is finding an unusual way to solve an issue. To do this, a player could use individual skills or work together with their teammates.

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OUT OF POSSESSION (Defending)

• Delaying our opponent - delaying focuses on slowing the speed of play – and controlling its direction. Doing this makes it harder for your opposition to move up the pitch and score. To create an effective delay, players need to prevent their opponent’s preferred ‘next step’. Examples include blocking a pass or restricting space so the other team makes a mistake.

• Being compact in defense - being compact gives your opposition less room to maneuver. To be compact, your players need to get closer to their opponents, the ball and each other. Doing this reduces the space available to the other team and makes it harder for them to progress up the pitch.

• Providing cover & balance - like compactness, this principle focuses on the effective positioning of your players in relation to each other, their opposition and the ball. For example, if one player moves to press an opponent, they automatically leave an area of space unprotected. When this happens, their teammates should move to cover the gaps. This prevents the opposition from progressing and ensures balanced defending across the pitch.

• Pressing the opponents - pressing is about controlling your opponent’s decisions. The aim is to force them to make a mistake so that you can regain possession of the ball. Your players can press as individuals, as units or as a full team. To do it well, they need appropriate positioning, movement, timing and teamwork. Players can create the opportunity to press. For example, purposefully leaving an opponent unmarked. Then, when this individual receives the ball, applying immediate pressure. Your team can also wait for pressing opportunities to present themselves. Triggers include the opposition attempting a long pass or taking a bad touch.

• Defensive control & restraint - This principle focuses on defending with composure and awareness. Your players must think about how, where and when they act. Doing this means they’re more likely to make a good decision. For example, if a player is outnumbered, showing restraint may mean they hold their position rather than starting a press. 

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The time spent on training and drills related to this section of weekly practice time will expand as the players get older and more skilled. Focus on a principle where the more need is required. At the U10 or under we will not focus significantly on goal keeping.  

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HERE'S activities and drills that focus on different Principles of Play. These will eventually be divided by age/skill appropriateness but right now they are listed in order of difficulty. 

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IN POSSESSION (see also Ball Mastery section)

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Penetrate 

• ​Dribbling

• Passing ​

• Improving a through ball - ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4F88T6fX_E

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Creating Space 

• Building out from the back: 

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• Spreading out - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkoWJPzxylA&t=40s

• Shielding the ball - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qwX_cwx00wY

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Movement 

• ​Get open - 

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Support 

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Creativity 

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OUT OF POSSESSION 

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​​Delaying your Opponent 

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Being Compact in Defense

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Providing Cover & Balance

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Pressing the Opponent

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Defensive Control & Restraint

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Winning the ball - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxc-16Mqmyg

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