New Updates

New updates since last week. I have added our focus for week 3 which is the low-block. I also added at the very end a cool thirty minute youtube video on the history of soccer tactical evolution for those soccer fanatics wanting to learn more. 

Welcome

Welcome to the B5 Warriors NXT 2013-2014 Spring season 2025 training page. The purpose of this page to share with players, parents, and coaches our training direction and thoughts. 

We are a group of 3 Brookline travel teams and one NEFC academy team. Our approach for the season is captured in our Game Model linked here. 

It lays out our style of play and other aspects of our philosophy. This is a living document that we update through the season that drives our training and game play. 

One of the factors that we find important in the development of the boys as players is to help them play different styles of they. As individuals it is not enough to learn to be a smart soccer player, but they need to learn how to apply that intelligence to a directed style of play. As such, this season we will focus on learning several different "styles of play". In accordance with our Game Model we will can these different styles of play sub-phases. 

Each player should be familiar with each sub-phase as we cover them. Each week we will focus on a sub-phase and by the end of the season we will cover them all. Below is a list of the main sub-phases that we will focus on. For more detail refer to our Game Model. Some additional details are provided below.

Sub-Phases

Offensive in the flow of play sub-phases:

Build-up

In this style of play we safely pass the ball around the field away from the opponent building out of our back to cross the midfield line to start our attack into the final third. 

Score by Team Ball Movement

In this style of play, we combine dribbling and passing and a lot of smart off the ball movement to create shots in the scoring zone. The scoring zone is the area of the field in front of the opponent's goal which is the width of the 6 yard box up to the 18. This part of the field leads to the highest chances to score when we take a shot. 

Counter-Attack

We combine this style of play with our low-block style of play. Using the low-block we intend to regain possession of the ball just at the top of our defending third of the field. From their our midfielder with the sprints down field and combines dribbling and passing with our two forwards to rapidly create a shot inside our scoring zone. While this attack goes on our defenders and remaining midfielders reform our defensive shape. 

Defensive in the flow of play sub-phases:

Low-block

In this style of play our midfield and defensive lines play a zonal pressure, cover, balance defense.  Our defensive line sets itself along our 18. Our midfield line sets itself about 5 yards on top of the defensive line. Each line plays compact pressure, cover, balance. The forwards allow the opponent to cross the midfield and then force them into a smaller and smaller space on the field. 

Mid-block

The mid-block is very similar to the low-block except the midfield line sets itself just on our defensive side of the midfield line. The defensive line forms up about 7-10 yards behind the midfield line while the forwards try and turn the other team to our right and make the field smaller and smaller for them. The purpose of this is to attempt and regain possession of the ball around the midfield line and then immediately attack or build-up into the attacking third

High-Press

When we high press we are switching to a man marking system centered around the opponent who has the ball. We are trying to gain possession of the ball on the opponent's side of the field. We are to gain possession of the ball and immediately attack towards goal. We frequently do this when the opponent has a goal kick. Our forwards try and turn our opponent to our right. Our midfield line positions itself to contain the ball in our attacking third. And our defenders position themselves to prevent an opponent's deep attack on our goal.

With these sub-phases in mind we will likely focus on one sub-phase a week. Below is training focus and material for players to read and think about.

Weekly Training Focus and Material

We expect each player to read through and watch the training material by week. This will help them better understand our training and training focus for the week. 

Week 1 Game on 12 APR: High Press

This week we are focusing on High Press. The purpose of the High Press is to pressure the opposing team (primarily on their goal kicks) to regain possession of the ball and rapidly attack the opponent's goal while they are disorganized. 

High-Press Subphase

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Concept: 

We want to turn our opponent to our right because that forces them onto their left foot which is likely their weak foot. We want our forwards to turn the opponent to our right and pressure them while preventing them from being able to pass the ball back to our left. Our midfield positions themselves far enough down field that the opponent cannot kick it over our head. We want to intercept the goal kick by running onto it, trapping it anywhere on our body and attacking to goal. Our defenders position themselves far enough back to prevent an opponent counter attack. 

This is a good explanation by Coach Rory on how high-pressing works. 

Tactical Example:

Here is a great example of a Liverpool team pressing and how they do it. Notice the intensity they show while pressing. Notice also how the players not pressuring the ball are aggressively cutting off passes and looking to intercept the ball. Also notice how once they gain possession of the ball they nearly also immediately attack to goal because they know the opponent is disorganized. In most of the examples Liverpool is in red. 

 

Week 2 Game on 19 APR: Corner Kicks, Throw-ins, and Free Kicks

We will be focusing this week on restarts. Our intent is to make sure that everyone has a common understanding of how we do restarts. We will start with Corner Kicks on Monday and then move on and add throw-ins and free kicks on Wednesday. 

Coach Sam Video on Corner Kicks

Corner Kick Defense

Corner Kick 1 - Long Cross

Corner Kick 2 - Play Short

Throw-ins and Free Kicks

Wednesday we will do throw-ins and free kicks. Let us first talk about the technic of throw-ins. Our goal is not to simply get the ball into play, but to build the foundation so that by the time you are in high school your throw-in in the attacking third is as or more dangerous than a corner. To get that kind of power you need really good form. As part of that watch this video. It is much more than keep both feet on the ground and throw the ball from behind your head. He goes into to some very important aspects of throwing with power. 

 

The Tactics of our Throw-ins

Here are a few general rules on the way we approach the tactics of throw-ins. 

• If you are in the defending or middle third of the field DO NOT throw the ball into the middle of the field. Do not. Do not. Do not throw the ball into the middle of the third. Doing so is very dangerous and the opponent may get it and rapidly counter-attack. 
• We take our throw-ins within five seconds from when the ball goes out. Be fast! This keeps the opponent from reforming their defense. Sprint to get the ball and throw it back in. 
• Faking the throw into the middle is great! Fake and then go down the line or towards our defense. 
• Midfielders should take the throw-in. We always want a defender behind him for him to pass to and prepared to defend if we turn the ball over. The forwards should be making runs down they field. If the defender takes the throw-in a midfielder should drop back and take his spot in defense. 

Building a Wall

This is a really good video and short. 

The steps of us building a wall.

1. Keeper decides we need a wall
2. Keeper yells out how many in the wall and who is the base.
3. Base turns towards the keeper and the keeper places him between the ball and the protected post
4. Other players in the wall line up on the Base and stay tight. 
5. Wall protects themselves.
6. At least one other player gets on each side of the wall preventing short passes around the wall. 
7. At least one player positions himself to sprint at the ball once touched if it is an indirect kick

 

Week 3 Game on 26 APR: Low-block

This week and likely the following week we are going to focus on low-blocks. In soccer, when the word block is used it means the team is primarily playing a zone defense with the defensive line and the midfield line. It is also possible the forwards will play a zonal defense, but often they are playing the ball. There are typically two kinds of blocks. A low-block and a mid-block. There is also a high-block, but this is rarely played though for those of us who went to the March 2025 Revolution game they played a high-block for much of the game. A low-block sets the defensive line somewhere around the 18. The mid-block sets the midfield line somewhere around the center line. The placement of the block is heavily based on where you want to regain possession of the ball. 

The low-block is a very effective way of playing defense to prevent the opponent from scoring. It is also a great way to set the conditions for very effective counter-attacking. I would like all of you to read this article on low-block. It gives an excellent explanation of what it is and how it works.

Low-Block - Football Tactics Explained

Once you have read the article above please watch my video below on how we will conduct a low-block.  When we play a "block" defense it is essential everyone understands their responsibility and is disciplined in playing our style of block.  

Low-Block from our Game Model

Here is a slide from our Game Model showing how we play a low-block. The video below will then show it in a video form. 

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Virtual Coaching Session on the Low-Block

General Soccer Stuff

This section is full of interesting soccer videos and articles to enhance the players' learning. Nothing here is "required", but it has some cool information and learning. 

History of Soccer and Tactics

The ENTIRE History of Football Tactics

This video is a great 30 minute video explaining the rule and subsequent tactical evolution of soccer since its beginning. This is a pretty long video with a lot detail and only for the truly dedicated lover of the Beautiful game.