Basketball Court Dimensions High School
Basketball concepts on the soccer field? What does Basketball have to do with playing soccer? How can it be done? These are some of the questions you are probably asking your self. Well, let me explain.
Playing basketball on the soccer field is the concept of using offensive play(s), similar to those used in basketball to:
1) control the ball,
2) control the pace or flow of the game,
3) increase your scoring opportunities and goal production
4) reduce your opponents’ number of scoring opportunities and goal production
5) reduce the amount of time your defenders have to play defense
Today’s emphasis or objective in soccer is “NOT TO LOSE”. Teams focus on playing a strong defense game, by keeping four (4) to eight (8) players in the defensive scheme. With the defensive players outnumbering the offensive players, its no wonder soccer is a low scoring game. If a team score an average of 2 goals a game, it is consider a good offensive team.
Developing this concept is really simple. You just draw a basketball court and diagram a simple basketball play with 3-4 options. Then you take the diagram of the basketball court with take the play options, and expand it to the approximate dimensions of penalty box. Leave the players in the same relative positions as you expand the diagram. Then you move the players out away from the penalty box. Place the forwards about half way between the penalty box and the center line. Place the midfielders, on the defensive side of the center line. They will be initiating the plays once they reach their starting spots on the field. The starting spots are the field locations you want your players to be at before they begin offensive play. You will have to make some adjustments as you refine the movement of the players, timing of the players’ routes, passing sequences, etc.
Now look at the movements of the players and the ball, you have just created a soccer play (a planned sequence of movements). What you now have is an offensive scheme to use so that all players know the following:
1) where they belong on the field as a starting point
2) who is getting the ball on each pass
3) where they need to be moving to on each pass (anticipation)
4) who is getting the scoring attempt (where and when)
5) where each player need to be on the shot, in case of a rebound, a pass through the goal mouth, etc.
You can create 3-5 of these plays. Use two or three of them during a game. You can also use two of them in the first half and then change to different plays during the half time. Use your creativity.
I used these basketball concepts on the soccer field, and it is very effective. I was the offensive coach for a varsity high school team. That year they played a total of 24 games. In those 24 games, the team scored 98 goals, an average 4 plus goals a game. That was compared to the previous year in which 42 goals were scored.
Using the basketball concepts on the soccer field also resulted in fewer goal scored by our opponents. By maintaining control of the ball and setting up our plays, there were also fewer scoring opportunities for our opponents. You can truly say that “the best defense” is a good offense that controls the ball and game play.
About me: I have a teaching degree in physical education and taught for 34 years. I have coached youth soccer, and high school soccer for nearly 25 years. Having coached several sports, soccer and basketball are my favorite sports to coach.
I spent time learning the many aspect the game of soccer. My objective in coaching soccer was to be the best teacher possible in the teaching of skills and techniques/mechanics to my players, and the best coach possible in the developing of soccer strategies, concepts, game preparation, game play and management so that my players could be the best players possible and the best team possible.
For further discussion on improving your soccer concepts, visit http://allsportsjunction.com/basketball.onsoccerfield.html
TEDxJakarta – Ade Rai – Towards A Strong And Healthy Indonesia
