Athletics & Wellness
Grade 7
12 min
Attacking & Defending Principles
Explain basic attacking and defending ideas.
Tutorial Preview
1
What Are We Trying to Do?
In soccer, your team is either attacking or defending. When you're attacking, your goal is to score in the other team's net. When you're defending, your goal is to stop the other team from scoring in your net. Let's learn some simple ideas that help your team work together to do both!
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Attacking Ideas: Width and Depth
When your team has the ball, you want to make the field feel big. Using 'width' means spreading out from sideline to sideline. Using 'depth' means having players both close to and far away from the other team's goal. This stretches out the defenders and creates open spaces for passing and running.
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Defending Ideas: Pressure and Cover
When the other team has the ball, you want to make the field feel small. The player closest to the ball should apply 'pressure' by safely challenging them. Another nearby teammate should provide 'cover' by getting into a spot to help out. This is like a buddy system to win the ball back.
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Challenging
Your team is attacking with the ball on the right sideline. You are the attacker on the far left sideline. What is a smart action that uses the idea of 'depth'?
0.Stand perfectly still and watch the play.
1.Make a diagonal run behind the defenders towards the goal.
2.Run backwards towards your own goal to be safe.
3.Run to the right sideline to be closer to your teammate.
Challenging
Think about the game of basketball. How could you apply the soccer principle of 'width' to help your team score?
0.Have all five players stand together under the basket.
1.Have one player dribble the ball while the other four wait at half-court.
2.Have players spread out to the sides and corners of the court.
3.Roll the ball on the floor instead of dribbling it.
Easy
When your team has the ball and is trying to score, what is the main idea of using 'width'?
0.To spread your players out from side-to-side across the field.
1.To have all players run towards the ball at the same time.
2.To kick the ball as high in the air as possible.
3.To stand still and wait for a pass.
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