Assessing your Opposition

One of the simplest and most straightforward tactics of the lot is one that is often forgotten or neglected. Getting an awareness of the opponents is a big help. It can greatly help your performance in a match if you can learn to concentrate on the tactics they are using. Knowing how they're likely to react or attack means you're ready for them and can outplay them. Knowing where they're weak means you know where to attack and exploit this weakness.

So the first feature we are including to launch the southamericansoccer.com web-site is a checklist of questions you could try to ask yourself as a match progresses. Don't panic! You don't have to learn them off and spend ten minutes of a match standing around while you work out the answers! (Some coaches call this "paralysis by analysis"!!) But if you can improve your ability to approach the game intelligently, and play to your strengths it can make a big difference.

Check out the questions below and work at using them in your coming matches.

Assessing the Opposing Team
Do they like to attack along the ground or to put crosses into the box?

Are they organised at the back or do they seem shaky?

What's the keeper like? Does he like crosses? Does he drift off his line?
Have they any weaker areas?

Have they any particularly strong players that must be tightly marked?

Do they tend to play through the middle, or spread it wide?

Are they particularly aggressive?

Do they switch or hold their positions?

What formation are they playing (eg.4-3-3)?

Do they play well as a unit, or are they disorganised?

Assessing your Opposite Number
What foot does he prefer?

Does he run at you or prefer to off-load passes to others?

Is he creative (taking players on) or is he a link player (prefers to pass)?

What type of temperament does he have? Is he easily upset?

Does he appear nervous?
Is it worth taking him on hen you have the ball?

Is he skilled and co-ordinated, or slightly vulnerable here?

Does he use the ball intelligently? Is he fast? Can you out-run him?

Is he confident with the ball in the air?

What position does he play in the team? How important is this role?