How to Soccer: Basic Attacking Principles and Positioning

It is of paramount importance for the coaches to teach their team about basic attacking principles and positioning, when it comes to how to soccer.

The Three Basic Positions

There are three basic positions in the attack. The First Tracker is the one who holds the ball. The main duty of this player is to retain possession while getting the ball as close to goal as possible through dribbling, passing or shooting.

Then, there are Second Attackers. They are the players within an easy ground pass of the First Attacker. The main duty of the Second Attackers is to prevent loss of possession, while still allowing the ball to be advanced forward if possible. This should be the case until the ball is advanced to within scoring range of the goal.

The coach must have a single Second Attacker position himself before getting into scoring range in order to allow the short relay passes between himself and the First Attacker.

In order to move the ball around the defenders, the attackers must try to get the ball past all of the defenders and into unobstructed space within scoring range of the goal.

The single Second Attacker must also be ready. As soon as the ball moves within scoring range, the single Second Attacker should switch from a "safety-first" orientation of keeping possession. It means he should try to move the ball away from goal in order to keep it.

The purpose of keeping possession is to be prepared to the more active role of setting up a shot on goal by the single Second Attacker himself or by the First Attacker.

This is the time when the second attacker should move into a position in order to allow the First Attacker to pass the ball into "scoring space" behind or to the side of the defenders.

This is the space the player can take an immediate shot. Now, there is a third attacker as well. His main duty is to unbalance the defense by making deep runs, usually to the far side of the goal. When it comes to learn and teach how to soccer, these are basic principles to consider.

Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of how to soccer. His web site, Youth Soccer Drills, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

World Cup Soccer

Who will be ready and poised to win the world cup of soccer this year? Many bets are already being placed. Is it that you have a favorite team or maybe a favorite player that will make you sure that's what is needed.

The world cup is a very much watched sport especially in Europe. It will and can unite the world. The spectators take to the street to celebrate with dancing, partying and drinking. They will rejoice the victory of their favorite team and players.

What makes the World Cup particularly extraordinary is the national pride that it inspires. World Cup history was not only about the winner or winning the title, but about the stories. Stories of players, teams and nations that surprised the world by achieving the unexpected. Each year new and better players are there before our eyes to see the great plays that have brought them to the game they and so many of us have come to enjoy so much. There will be a lot of celebrating and some regrets.

We will all look forward to seeing the favorites we have gotten to know so well over the years. The thrill of winning with many individual feats demostrated for all of us to witness. The way our favorite team will once again come together to play so well we often wonder on that first game seeing this how they ever could loose. Will the European contenders such as Italy, Portugal, Netherlands, England, Germany, Spain, and France have the best team to overcome the South American power forces from Brazil and Argentina, or will the world be dancing to the samba beat again this year?

Armed with impossible hope, win or lose, they are there to defend their national pride, and valiantly defend it they will, sometimes to the very chagrin and amazement of disbelieving onlookers.

As football fans across all continents count down to the opening day of 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, BetUS Sportsbook has launched its 2006 World Cup betting portal for soccer betting enthusiasts around the world. What a day it shall be, June 9th 2006! What a month it shall be, until the truth will set us all free on July 9th 2006!

For more information, please visit http://www.worldcupsoccer4you.com

Barbara Farrar is an avid socceer fan. She played in high school and college.