Thanks for all the help I can use all the help I can
get I volunteered for coach of 8 and 9 yr. old co-ed
team again for fall soccer.
--- Ken Gamble <dsports@...> wrote:
> Peter,
>
> Here is some information on fullbacks,
> stoppers and sweepers. This is
> from Gary Rue's Series of Articles on Style of Play
> located at
>
http://www.decatursports.com/exercises_of_the_day_by_gary_rue.htm
> The portion below is actually from segment 4,
> although all of this series is
> worthwhile reading about positions and what types of
> skills players need for
> each position and how a coach should decide on what
> style of play his team
> should play.
> I differ slightly in my opinion (from your
> other replies) that a
> stopper, while mainly a defensive position, should
> also have free rein to go
> forward with the ball when he wins the ball in the
> middle third of the
> field. I consider stopper to be more of a center
> defensive (holding)
> midfielder who plays in front of the sweeper and who
> often marks the ball
> rather than the player as it enters your defensive
> third - being first to
> the ball. He delays the attack until his defense
> can recover behind him.
> But I allow him to make quick counter attacks if he
> wins the ball and that
> includes both passing and dribbling into the
> attacking third.
>
> Fullbacks
> Backs should be strong and have a passive aggressive
> nature. Though this
> sounds oxymoronic, a back needs to be very
> controlled at times and then very
> strong and aggressive in the man-to-man, 50-50 ball
> battles. Because of the
> self-checking nature of the other team's attackers,
> a coach can sometimes
> get away with using players that have little speed
> and quickness. In other
> cases, at higher playing levels, it is very
> necessary that a fullback have
> good quickness, average short distance speed and
> decent kicking skills.
> Players that are below average in speed can make up
> for this with good game
> knowledge and positioning. Exceptional dribbling
> skills are not a major
> requirement in this position. Fullbacks do need to
> be good communicators,
> constantly directing and offering information to
> teammates.
>
> Sweeper
> This position is similar to the fullback
> characteristics, however, there are
> certain differences. This player needs above average
> short distance and long
> distance speed, good kicking technique, a very good
> understanding of the
> team shape, and good communication skills. He needs
> to be able direct the
> players in front of him and run down through balls
> and breakaway attackers.
> Since he is support to the players in front of him,
> he must be able to pick
> up dribblers as they get past their marks or track
> down unmarked attackers
> as they make off-ball runs on goal. Often the
> sweeper is the first or second
> best athlete on the team and one of the fastest.
> This player must be a
> thinker with decent reaction time.
>
> Stopper
> This position requires a combination of sweeper,
> fullback and center half
> characteristics. The stopper often has some free
> rein, must be able to
> distribute the ball, win balls in traffic and get
> back to pick up unmarked
> attackers. At times, the stopper needs to recover
> into the sweeper
> position (deep center) if the sweeper is pulled out.
>
>
> Ken Gamble
> http://www.decatursports.com
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Forsyth, Peter" <pforsyth@...>
> I have a daughter playing competitive U13. Her coach
> is using her in a
> number of positions and being a guy raised playing
> hockey, I have a good
> understanding on how the positions in hockey work.
> Soccer introduces two
> positions that are a bit foreign to me and I am
> hoping that somebody can
> explain what the responsibilities are of the Stopper
> and the Sweeper. I
> understand where they play on the field but I a bit
> lost on what they are
> supposed to do.
> Thanks.
>
>
>
>


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