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Coaching With Region 70’s Goal Differential Philosophy
Know the abilities of those you’re playing against:
Check the web site for league standings and scores against common opponents. Talk with or email other coaches. Scout your opponents beforehand by watching part of one of their games.
If your opponent is weak, plan ahead:
You should always have your substitution pattern written out in advance, but now it’s imperative. Know what steps you are going to take ahead of time so that you don’t have to figure it out on the fly.
Have the confidence to start slowly:
Most coaches start their strongest lineups in the hope of jumping out to an early lead. Weak opponents often give up when down by several goals, and then you are at a real risk of being penalized.
Against a weak opponent, you can start your weakest line-up and build up from there. A come-from-behind victory is vastly more satisfying for a team than a game that is all but decided in the first few minutes. More fun for everybody too, including the players that you’re not starting every game!
Maximum playing time is not necessary in every game:
You don’t need to match your opponent man-for-man. For example, in an 8 vs. 8 game with 10 player rosters, you can hold out an extra player in the first two quarters (3 subs), playing your seven vs. the opponent’s eight. After dropping to two subs in the last two quarters, everyone will have played his three quarters. Experiment with your roster.
Work on some of these techniques in practice. Reinforce pre-game and at halftime:
Your team won’t know what you mean by “two-touch” or “shoot from outside the penalty box” unless you teach them in practice.
Be gracious:
Yelling instructions such as, “No more scoring,” or “Only (weakest player’s name) can shoot,” is demeaning to the other team. Communicate your instructions to your players quietly, on the sideline or in your team talks. Instruct your players to not make unsportsmanlike remarks. Discipline the players who do. Let your players know that even teams that win can act like losers and that you expect them to act like winners.
Set team goals that go beyond the number of wins:
During one season with a particularly strong team, I made it a goal to have as many different players as possible score at least one goal. Nine of eleven did, and some of them never scored again in their careers. Other team goals: everyone earns an assist, or executes a specific dribbling move under game conditions, or is involved in a give-and-go, and so forth.
Measures I’ve taken in my games:
Strongest player plays goalkeeper, or can’t go past midfield, may only kick with left foot, must play two-touch or one-touch, can only tally assists, comes out of game entirely. (If your top-rated player is forced to work on weak areas, it will only make him stronger in the long run.)
Only designated player(s) may shoot. My lowest number: only one player can score
Player may shoot only after receiving a back pass.
Only a certain number of players may go past midfield. My lowest number: one.
Play with fewer players than opposing team.
Shoot only after completing 7 passes.
Toward the end of the game, gradually and quietly pulled my players off the field until the other team scored. Lowest number: 5 vs. other team’s 9.
Limited entire team to two or three touches before making a pass.
Not allowed any defensive pressure until other team crossed midfield mark.
Measures I’ve heard of other coaches taking:
Make 10 consecutive passes before going for goal.
Team can only score with headers (U-12 and above).
Shoot only from outside penalty area.
Shoot only after a crossing pass from right or left.
Shot must be made without taking a controlling touch (one-time shots).
If limiting players going past midfield line, if ball crosses back into your defensive end, then your team must connect three or four passes before going forward again.
Entire team limited to shooting with weaker foot.
Score only after executing give-and-go in the offensive end of field (U-10 and above).
Any combination of any measures in this and the preceding paragraph.

The astute, seasoned coaches among you by now have recognized that much of what is presented above is consistent with good general coaching practices.
Shouldn’t you know your opponent and be prepared ahead of time, whether you’re up against a weak team or you’re playing the league frontrunner for the championship?
Aren’t many of the suggested techniques being used by the very best teams to vary their attack and to speed up play?

Playing against a team that is not equal to your team’s abilities provides you with an opportunity to experiment without pressure.
View it as a positive, communicate that view to everyone, and you will improve as a coach right along with your team.

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