Toronto FC POLL
What was TFC's most memorable moment of 2008?
  • 6-game streak
  • All-Star Game
  • Trade for Barrett
  • Beating the Fire
  • Other

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// PROGRAM PRINCIPLES

There are always some basic principles that any program should operate on. The TFC Academy will provide this in order for everyone to understand the backbone of our approach. The game is about attacking and defending and in essence we must understand why we do either. It is logical and at times quite simple:

DEFENDING PRINCIPLES:

  1. The goal is to win the ball
  2. The goal is to prevent the opposition from creating chances to score.
  3. To do this we will mainly focus on zonal defending but understand the importance of 1v1 play.

Key aspects of our defensive team shape:

  • Flexibility to change under an organized structure.
  • Aggressive defending at the appropriate times.
  • Look to win ball in front of the opposition.
  • Keep compact.
  • The space is more important than the player except when we are near to or in the penalty area.
  • The distances between each group on the field must be short.
  • The team must be able to have a variety of pressure areas on the field (Defensive, midfield and attacking thirds).
    • If we can have strong pressure on the ball then we move our team further up the field.
    • If we have poor pressure on the ball then we drop off and let teams play in front of us.
    • If we win the ball by stepping in front of the opposition we must attack quickly.

ATTACKING PRINCIPLES:

  1. The FIRST goal is to create chances to score.
  2. Next we focus on scoring.
  3. To do this we will use a variety of attacking strategies but mainly quick passing plays that maintain possession of the ball while moving forward.

Key aspects of our attacking team shape:

  • Flexibility to change under an organized structure.
  • A willingness to be mobile, creative and run.
  • Find openings in opposition and attack through the use of inter-passing.
  • Attack 1v1 whenever possible.
  • Move forward as a team.
  • Play the ball into the penalty area quickly.
  • Finish
  • If we come across an organized defense we must look to:
    • Pass forward and in front of the opposition.
    • Pass around midfield to seek openings while looking forward.
    • Pass behind the back line of defenders if we have numerical advantage or if it is 1v1.
  • If we come across an unorganized defense we must look to:
    • Counter attack first.
    • Outnumber the opposition in midfield and gain possession of the ball and attack the back line quickly.