MOVEMENTS WHEN NOT IN POSSESSION

I would like, in my blog, to write not only about theoretical aspects based on scientific research, but also on the Technical and Tactical aspects of the game that I think wold benefit all those who read my blog. Thus, as a first instalment, I have chosen the one aspect that is troublesome in every players movement and that is Running.

As nearly every movement in the game of soccer is concerned with the ball, but it is necessary to deal with the movement made when not in possession. The most important of these are: running, changing direction, jumping and feinting. Provided these are correctly and economically executed, they can greatly improve the standard of a player's performance. I will in future discussions deal with all these movements, but now it is time to discuss the movement called Running.

What is the characteristic of the running action of soccer players? In contrast to the technique of a track and field runner, the most characteristic feature of the running technique of a soccer player is the ABSENCE of an intense push off, the energetic separation from the ground. Lifting of the other knee is also absent. The soccer player can be compelled to change direction at any moment; this would be too slow and difficult if he players stride kept him too long in the air between push-off and landing.

Consequently, his stride is never as long as that of a sprinter or even of a long distance runner; it is normally much shorter. When running, a player rather takes a strike under his body, unlike a track and field runner, who tries to step out in front of the vertical axis of his body. (This does not mean that a player never lenghtens his stride; he has to do so when going full out for the ball or to overtake an opponent).

A player always attempts to keep his body's center of gravity as near as possible to the ground. This makes it much easier to stop or to change direction abruptly. The line of the center of gravity of the player when running deviates only slightly from the horizontal. While running, a player is rarely as loose as a track and field athlete, who is generally free from external influences. At the same time, however; the players keep his muscles loose when running, ready to counter the external influences that may occur at any moment (tackling, charging or collision with opponent).

The running action of a player can also be distinguished from that of a track and field athlete by the movement of his arms. They do not move near the body, in a line parallel with the direction of progress, but in a slightly horizontal manner. This is important since it helps the players ability to maintain the pose (position) and balance of his body. Although, the running of the player cannot be compared with the harmony of the movement of say, a middle-distance runner from an aesthetic point of view, the technique of running that players have developed is valuable, economic, rational and, for that matter, absolutely correct. So we need only concentrate on eliminating the more obviously wrong or unnecessary movements, and we should never attempt to make the player develop a perfect "athletic" style of running.

And now a few remarks on starting to run or the take-off.

During a game a player has often to change his relatively static state (standing or walking) and accelerate as quickly as possible. In order to achieve maximum speed within a minimum of time, it is advisable for the player to be constantly moving to develop a constant jog. This ensures that he will be ready to make the kind of flying start that saves valuable tenths of a second.

But no player can always be on the move and it often happens that the start must be made from a standing position. To ensure a quick start, the player should NOT divide his weigth between his knees and soles, but should wait with body bent forward, and knees bent in, thus lowering his center of gravity, with the weight of the body on his soles. A much quicker start can be made from this position, which might be termed the ANTICIPATORY POSITION.

Once again, this leads me to the never ending question of parents if their sons or daughters should run track to keep in shape. Not only does athletics develop a different musculature, that is strange to soccer, but it also "trains" the muscles to adopt into an athletic run which is again incorrect for the game of soccer. It also conditions the athlete and his large organs (Lungs, liver, heart) to adopt to an aerobic movement where as the game of soccer demands anaerobic stamina and endurance.

This is how I see it and once again scientific research is available to substantiate my viewpoint. I leave it up to the reader how they will apply these new points and whether they will continue pushing their "soccer" players into these other sports strange to the beautiful game shall still remain strictly their choice.