The Phases of the Game

Soccer is a game of phases. At the most basic phase soccer can be categorized as a game of attacking and defending. Attacking is the phase which refers to the time your team is in possession of the ball and defending is the time the opponent is in possession and your team is trying to dispossess the opponent.

Going one step further the game can be broken down into the times when the ball is neither in your possession or the opponent’s possession: transition. When on the attack and the ball is lost the team must transition from the attack to defense. When on defense and winning the ball the team must transition into the attacking shape from a defensive shape. There are now four phases of the game to consider: attacking, transition to the attack, defense and transition to defense.

Immediately after transition from defense to the attack the decision must be made on whether to counter-attack or whether to turn away from pressure in order to possess which will allow for an organized attempt on goal. In both situations the end result is an attack on goal.

When the ball is lost the first threat from the opponent is the counter-attack. If the opponent cannot counter-attack successfully it can be expected that they will build up the attack. When the opponent is building up the attack the defense must be able to organize and press the defense to take away the attacking space from the opponent. Finally when an attacking team creates an opportunity the defense must be organized and defend the area in their defensive third, especially inside their own eighteen yard box.

Finally teams must understand how to deal with restarts, both on the attack and on the defense.

Therefore there are six dynamic phases of the game and two static phases. Dynamic refers to constant motion and is the flow of the game during the actual game play. Static refers to the time the ball is stopped and refers to restarts which can happen both on the attack and on defense.

Build-up (winning the ball and organizing into an attacking shape)
Attacking from the build up (this can begin in any third of play)
Transition from attack to defense and defending the counter-attack. (successful build up but no goal)
Organizing the defense and pressing (defending versus the counterattack while organizing the rest of the defense when the opponent is first counterattacking, then possessing in their build up phase)
Defending inside the defensive third with the opponent near the goal
Transition from defense to attack –(counter attack after successful defense)
Two separate but related categories.
Defensive restarts (often after successful build up by the opponent, but not always)
Attacking restarts (these often occur after a successful build up)

When possession is won and the quick counter attack turning away from pressure to possess is the sign of a great team. As going forward is not possible due to high pressure the only logical course is to play away from pressure which often involves a pass into negative space. The build up takes place in all thirds of the field but primarily in the defensive and middle thirds of play. This may happen when the opponent takes a shot and the keeper saves, it may happen when the defender tackles and wins or it may happen when the forwards or midfielders win and play back to the midfielders or defenders to reorganize the attack and build it from the back. Certainly the attack may begin in the middle or attacking third as well, however the defensive third often offers the most space as there are usually numbers up. Even with three forwards there will be four defenders and a keeper giving the attacking team a plus two advantage in the attack; the defensive third is a natural place to begin the build up. Therefore explanation will begin with breaking out of the back, progress to attacking from midfield third and conclude with attacking in final third. The focus will be on training a team to be organized in the attack. Attacking restarts will then be addressed and then finally attacking quickly with the counter attack.

Attacking from the Back Possession