Soccer Throw-ins

I had a call from a new soccer coach asking for my opinion on throw-ins.  Here are my thoughts

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Two-thirds of all points in soccer are scored from play restarts: Corner kicks, penalty kicks and throw-ins.

Throw-ins occur about ten times more often than either corner kicks or penalty kicks. 

A team that is organized and practices "throw-in" plays has a huge advantage over teams that have not.

Fractals and Julian Sets

One of the fascinating things about fractals is how a very simple rule set can generate extremely intricate and complicated outputs.

The throw-in play described below is fairly simple but looks very complicated to the other team.

Set up

Mid-fielder throws in.  Holds ball in hands in low position.  They shout out either the name of a random food or a color.  This serves two purposes, it starts the play and is a distraction to the other team....there is only one play.

Two strikers (forwards) are up-field from the throw-in.  They should be positioned about 5 yards farther away from the mid-fielder than he/she can throw and spread out by 20 or 30 feet cross field.  At the sound of "SPAGHETTI!" or "RED!" they start walking toward the mid-fielder.  They should be hollering "I'm open.  Throw it to me!"  The strikers should be synchronizing their speed so they stay even with each other as they move toward the mid-fielder.  Ideally, the defenders will follow the strikers. 

One eludes defenders with changes of speed and/or changes of direction.  This play requires that the strikers do both.

The mid-fielder is running this play.  He/she "turns" them when they lift the ball.  The mid-fielder should not turn them until they are within spitting distance.  The strikers then spin 180 and sprint toward the goal or up the sideline.

At the same time, a stopper will accelerate up the sideline from behind the mid-fielder.

The mid-fielder must be able to throw the ball in front of one of the strikers.  There is no off-sides penalty on a throw-in.

If that does not work out, the mid-fielder can drop the ball in front of the stopper.  The stopper can either cross the field (where a mid-fielder is waiting), loft it between the opposing keeper and the strikers or dribble the ball up the side of the field.  These options are listed in order of preference.

Key points:

1. The mid-fielder runs the play.  They start it.  They control when the strikers pivot and accelerate.
2. The mid-fielder must know how far they can throw the ball.  Practice, practice, practice.  Better too soon than too late.
3. The strikers must coordinate and distract
4. The stopper must be positioned, and ready to clean up any messes
5. On field mid-fielders must be ready to receive a cross from the stopper.

This play is all about timing.  If the timing falls apart, you are really no worse off than if you did not have a play.  If it works, the other team will be caught flat footed and will waste a lot of time trying to decode the "plays".

Good luck.