Runs into the penalty area.

A habit that I noticed among our under 13 & 14 players in the AZ state league and AZ state cup play was the way the players made runs into the penalty area to try to connect with a crossed ball. Most of our players selected to run behind the defenders rather than across the front of the defender.

In addition many players made runs into the penalty area too early, generally before the ball was even played. Many players found themselves in stationary positions leaving them with no momentum to step towards the ball or jump to head the ball towards goal

The red players in the diagram above are shown making late runs into the penalty making it difficult for the defenders to keep their eye on the ball, the space they are marking plus the runs of the attacking players. I believe more goal scoring opportunities at the youth level would be created if attackers ran across the front of the defenders when the ball is being crossed.

Cheers Tony C

Tony Colavecchia
AYSA Director of Coaching
11029 N.24th Ave .Suite 806
Phoenix AZ 85029
e-mail aysadoc@aol.com
cell # 602 791 5827
office #602 433 9202
fax #602 433 9221