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Introduction

Welcome to the Brookline Soccer Club Premier B5 team page. Here you will find information we share about how we play and soccer in general. Each week during the season the New Updates section will be updated with what has changed on the page. The Weekly Training section will be updated each week. And, randomly through the season other parts of the page will be updated and then the New Updates section will reflect that. The page is maintained by Coach Sam. 

New Updates

This week I have updated Week 3 for the game on 27 SEP. We are once again focusing on the low-block and counter attacking. 

B5 Team Overview

The Premier B5 team is part of the Brookline Soccer Club. The BSC Premier teams are associated with the New England Football Club (NEFC). We play 9v9 games with a size 4 ball within the New England Club Soccer League (NECSL).  You can find our schedules in BAYS from this page by looking for your team under the Brookline Soccer Club Teams section. 

Our B5 Vision

Provide a fun, rewarding, and developmental soccer experience for 5th grade boys that progresses them towards their soccer goals whether that ranges from playing at Brookline High School, playing in college, or creating a life-long love of the Beautiful Game. Additionally, our vision is to assist each player with become the best person and citizen he can be. 

Game Model

Our game model drives everything about the way we train and play.  It lays out our style of play. 

Culture

We are a values based team whose culture reflects those values. Together, these values make up the character of our players. 

Values

  • Respectful – we treat everyone with dignity
  • Focused – when we are at practice or a game we are talking and thinking about soccer
  • Supportive – we support each other as players and people
  • Joy - grateful for every chance to play and be with our teammates

Team Style of Play

Defense Phase:

We play a disciplined team defense that shifts its tactical style based on our game requirements. We play a mix of low-block, mid-block, and high-block based on the situation in the game.

Attack Phase:

We play either build-up out of the back tactical style or breaking the lines tactical style of play in our defensive half. In the attacking half we play either a possession and movement or counter-attack tactical style of play.

Tactical Styles of Play

Our expectation is every player should be familiar with all of tactical styles of play.

Attacking in the flow of Tactical Styles of Play:

Build up out of the back

In this tactical style of play we safely pass the ball around our defensive half of the field away from the opponent building out of our back. The purpose is to safely and consistently cross the midfield line to start our attack into our attacking half of the field.  

Breaking the Lines

We will generally play this tactical style of play if our opponent is successfully pressing us during our build-up. In this tactical style of play we look for long passes over the opponent's forward and midfield lines to find our open players in the attacking half of the field. 

Counter-attack

Often when we play a low-block we are doing so in order to enable our midfield to regain possession of the ball so we can rapidly launch a counter-attack with 1-2 midfielders and 2 forwards to get into the scoring zone and create a scoring opportunity before the opponent's midfield get get back on defense. 

Possession and Movement

This is our standard tactical style of play in our attacking half. The defensive line sets generally along the midfield line spread out supporting the midfield with back pass opportunities and looking to switch the field. The center midfielder generally stays in the central channel while the outside midfielders move where ever they need to in order to switch the field, create overloads or overlap into the attacking third to create goal scoring opportunities. The forward move across the width of the field to create overloads and goal scoring opportunities. In general, the team safely and quickly moves the ball all around the field looking to create goal scoring opportunities within the scoring zone. We play the ball safely until we can get it in the scoring zone where we accept risk to score. 

Defending in the flow of play Tactical Styles of play:

Low-Block

In this tactical 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 5-7 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 on either the left of the right side. Normally we like to turn the opponent to our right side. We will likely low-block for two reasons. The first one is to prevent the opponent from getting shots inside our scoring zone. The second, and often more important reason, is for us to create counter-attacking opportunities. 

An important idea to introduce is the idea of a pressure line. This is an imaginary line we draw on the field. It is the line the forward do not cross and when the ball crosses that line then the forwards pressure the ball. In a low-block the pressure line is general the field's center line. Forwards DO NOT pressure the opponent until they cross the center line. Then the forwards pressure the ball. The purpose of this is to ensure that the forwards are close enough to our midfield line to pressure the opponent when passing so they make a bad pass and our midfielders can intercept the ball. 

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 our 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 typically regain possession of the ball around the middle of the field and then attack by probing or attack by targeting depending on the style we are playing at the moment. 

When we play a mid-block we set the pressure line just above the center circle. Our forwards wait for the opponent to cross the pressure line before they pressure the ball. 

High-Block

The high-block is very similar to the mid and low-block except the defensive line sets itself along the center line. The midfield line forms up about 7-10 yards on top of our defensive 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 typically regain possession of the ball around the middle of the field and then attack by probing or attack by targeting depending on the style we are playing at the moment. 

Weekly Training

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. 

Pre-Season and Week 1 Game 13 SEP

Prior to our first game in September I would like each player to complete this section. The purpose of this section is to introduce the ideas of the high-block, mid-block and to discuss individual defending. 

Two of our defensive team tactical styles of play that we will cover to prepare us for our first game are:

  • Mid-block
  • High-press

Individual Defending

Before we get into how we defend as a team let us go over how we defend as an individual. This is a good video to cover the fundamentals of individual defending. We have already covered many of these in practice and seeing it on film is a good way of reinforcing what we have learned. 

A Block

So, what do we mean when we say block? What do we mean when we say low-block or mid or high-block? Good questions. Well, in soccer a block is when the defensive line and midfield line are both playing a zonal defense using pressure-cover-balance to prevent the opponent from dribbling or passing through their lines. Typically the forwards in a block are not playing pressure cover balance. Instead they are trying to prevent the ball from coming down the center of the field and they are trying to turn the ball to the left or right. They are also trying to make the opponent make a bad pass and turn the ball over so we can attack. 

The difference between the different blocks is where they position the block (defensive and midfield lines) on the field. A low-block generally has it defensive line a little above our own 18. A mid-block typically has the midfield line along the field's center line. And, a high-block generally has our defensive line along the field's center line. 

High-block

The purpose of the high-block is to pressure our opponent in our attacking half of the field so we can force a bad pass and regain possession of the ball. Our Center Back generally positions our defensive line on the field's center line. If our opponent cannot kick the ball out of the back our Center Back can push the line forward to make the field even smaller and increase our chance of getting the ball. The midfield line plays about seven yards (9-10 big steps) on top of the defensive line. That often means that our midfield line is playing just about the center circle in the opponent's half of the field. If our defensive line pushes forward so does our midfield line. Our forward line plays together hunting the ball and trying to push it to our right side. Our right side generally means that the opponent is forced to play with his left foot which is likely his weak foot. 

Mid-block

The purpose of the mid-block is to deny the opponent to get any shots on goal and to regain possession of the ball in the middle third of the field. Just like all the other blocks in a mid-block the defensive and midfield lines each play pressure-cover-balance about 7 yards apart from each other. In a mid-block the midfield line sets itself along the center line. The defensive line sets itself about seven yards behind the midfield line approximately at the bottom of the center circle. In a mid-block we then set a pressure line above the mid-field about 10 yards. Past this pressure line our forwards DO NOT pressure the ball. The opponent can do anything they want past the pressure line and we do not pressure them. Once they cross the pressure line our forwards hunt the ball trying to turn the opponent's to our right and force a bad pass so our midfield can intercept the pass. 

Mid-Block Example

In this video, can you identify England's (white team) defensive, midfield, and forward lines and how they work together? Can you also see how their midfield line is generally playing along the center line?

Week 2 Game 20 SEP

In our game this week we are going to focus on low-block and high-block. So, for this week let us watch some videos on low-block since we have already talked about high-block. 

Pressure-Cover-Balance

We have gone over this concept, so let us now watch a short video on it. Our defensive line and our midfield line play using pressure, cover, balance. Notice in this video how the defender nearest the ball steps forward to apply pressure. The defender next to him slightly slides behind him to cover behind the pressurer making it hard for the opponent to beat him with a pass or dribble. Then the rest of the defensive or midfield line lines up with the cover player to balance the line. 

Low-Block

Now that we have the tactical concept of pressure cover balance in our heads let us apply that to a low-block. This video will show you how we do a low-block. It is very important that our forwards understand the concept of the pressure line. Pressure is the line on the field we defensively do not go pass and at which we begin to pressure the ball when they cross it. 

A Low-Block Example: Mainz vs Bayern

Mainz's low-block is excellent in this example. Notice especially how disciplined their back line (defenders) are. If they come forward to pressure as soon as the ball goes away they run back and reform their shape by getting back into the defensive line. Notice also how the midfield line brilliantly works together to prevent Bayern from being able to attack down the middle and they have to go outside. 

Week 3 Game 27 SEP

In this week's game we are going to focus on our low-block and counter-attacking. In this first video he gives a professional level overview of the low-block and how it is done and why it is done. 

The Low Block Defense to Attack in Football – Football Breakdown

 

Legendary Counter-Attacks

This video has some amazing counter-attacks. As you watch this video look for things that all or most of the counter-attacks have in common. Here are a few that I noticed.

  • Many of the attacks start around the defensive third (near the 18). This is where we set our low-block and anticipate to regain possession of the ball
  • Nearly all of the counter-attacks involve two or more attackers running at full speed
  • The attacking dribbling is speed dribbling until sometimes right near the goal. By speed dribbling I mean they are pushing the ball in front of them and no wasted touches. 
  • Notice how many "big touches" you see.
  • Look how often a counter-attack results from immediately transitioning from defense to offense during a defensive corner kick.

 

How To Dribble With SPEED | 5 Tips For FASTER Dribbling

Lastly this week, watch this good video on how to speed dribble. With us not having a game or practice this Saturday you have a great chance to get out on a field by yourself and practice speed dribbling. A goal of 30 minutes of juggling and speed dribbling would be great. 

General Soccer Stuff

This section will fill with interesting soccer videos and articles to enhance the players' learning. Nothing here is "required", but it will have some cool information and learning.