River Surge FC - Style of Play
WHY is determining RSFC’s style of play important?
If we want to give RSFC players the opportunity to play at the highest level their effort and desire will take them, we need a framework to help navigate team and player development paths. With this framework we’re able to identify what developmental areas are important at a player’s and team’s age, allowing us to focus on the things that ARE important, WHEN they are important. By doing this we believe players will have more fun and our teams will have more competitive success in the long term (16 years old and beyond).
Mentality
- We are always engaged: Our players will continuously identify the situation around them take advantage of them to reach the objective of the game.
- Objectives could include:
- Scoring a goal quickly
- Take advantage of a turnover with quick counterattack
- Recover on defense
- Maintaining possession
- Objectives could include:
- We dictate the path of the ball: RSFC will play a possession style of play which means we will invest in skill training and commitment to the process of skill development.
- Skillful
- Confident on one v one play
- Skillful at many types of passes
- On defense we defend at a unit and take away passing options of our opponent.
- Skillful
- Our thoughts will lead to action that dictate our character:
- RSFC’s style of play will reflect our players character attributes of a positive attitude, hard work, and a growth mindset to execute our style.
In Attack
We possess with purpose, and our purpose is to score goals. Each player that receives the ball is looking to answer the questions “Can I play the ball forward?” and “Can I score right now?” Their answers in those moments will determine what the team does with the ball, which can include:
- Scoring a goal from a quick counter-attack
- If we can’t immediately play the ball forward safely, possessing the ball, ie passing between multiple teammates, in an effort to draw out our opponents’ defense, and playing through the gaps in their defense created by our ball movement, so that we can score.
In Transition
We will anticipate changes in possession and move on the field accordingly, to allow us to launch early counterattacks when we win the ball, and have an organized defense to get the ball back when we lose it.
In Defense
We will be organized in our positioning and communication, with the purpose of winning the ball back. This will include:
- Funneling play to less dangerous parts of the field
- Using an energetic, organized, full team press to force the opposition into small spaces and difficult decisions to win the ball back, when the context of the game requires it.
- In those moments when we believe we can win the ball back, we will be tenacious in our challenges
- Our teams will hold a favorable margin against all opponents in 50/50 balls.
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