Taft Soccer
What is Taft's mascot called?
Howie
In a 4-3-3, why is it dangerous for all three midfielders to stand in the same vertical line?
It makes them easy to defend and eliminates passing angles, defensive structural problems, easy for opponent to bypass the midfield.....
What famous soccer player just retired from international soccer?
Lionel Messi
You receive the ball with no pressure and have plenty of space. You can either play forward or pass back. What do you do?
Settle the ball, look forward first, make decision (either to pass, dribble, etc).
Using two players: demonstrate an overlap
an attacking move where a player runs around the outside of a teammate who has the ball
About how many players tried out for Taft soccer this year?
Around 230
We are playing a 4-3-3. The other team's center backs have the ball, and your striker is pressing one of them. Where should your winger on that side generally position himself?
He should tuck in enough to help prevent an easy pass into the opposing midfielder while still being ready to press the outside player/fullback.
Which club plays its home games at Anfield?
100 pt bonus: name three CURRENT players
Liverpool
Your teammate has the ball on the wing and beats their defender. Where should you generally move to help them?
Make a supporting run into space, such as overlapping, underlapping, or getting into the box depending on your position.
What is a line-breaking pass?
A precise pass that travels directly through the opponent's defensive or midfield line, bypassing defenders completely.
Read-Dunning Field
Draw it: How do you properly defend a corner kick?
Mark everyone GOAL SIDE, defenders on each post, clear communication, goalie commanding, etc.
Which country did France defeat in the 1998 World Cup final?
100 bonus pts: What city was the game played in?
Brazil, played in Saint-Denis
You are the last defender and an opposing attacker is running behind your line. Do you immediately dive into a tackle or try to delay them?
Delay them and stay goal-side whenever possible. Rest of defense needs to recover and get behind the ball ASAP.
What is counter-pressing and how do you do it?
Instantly defending and trying to win the ball back within the first few seconds of losing possession deep in the opponent's half.
How to:
Move toward the ball right away. Do not wait or drop back and send the nearest player to attack the ball carrier.
Block passing lanes: Have nearby teammates stand in the way of easy passes and keep compact shape.
How many CPL titles has Taft Varsity boys Soccer won?
2: 2023 and 2025
DISCUSSION: We are down 1–0 with 10 minutes left. You have the ball in your own half. Do you slow the game down and maintain possession, or take more risks? Explain your decision.
Various Answers can be accepted, if explained thoroughly
Diego Maradona scored his famous "Hand of God" goal against which country in the World Cup?
200 bonus pts: What year?
England, 1986
Your team is attacking and you lose the ball. You are the closest player to the ball, but you are badly positioned to win it back. What should you do?
Immediately pressure/delay the ball carrier while teammates recover and organize behind you.
Your GK is yelling "hold the line". What does that mean and how do you do it?
Tells the defenders to stand their ground and maintain a straight horizontal line to keep the opponent's forwards trapped offside
What is our goal as Taft's frosh team this year?
CPL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!!!
We lose the ball and the other team is on a counter-press, how do we maintain our shape in a 4-3-3? Write or draw it out.
The shape should quickly drop into a compact, disciplined 4-1-4-1 or a deep 4-5-1 defensive block.
The nearest players must pressure the ball carrier immediately to slow down the opponent's forward momentum. CDM drops in between CBs. Back line becomes compact, outside backs must sprint back behind the ball. CAMs and Wingers must drop andfall back into a line, matching opponents width. Strikers stays as high as possible and forcing counter as wide as possible.
Who are the all-time USA goal scorers? Man and Woman.
200 bonus pts if you can name how many.
Clint Dempsey/Landon Donovan- 57 goals
Abby Wambach- 184 goals
The opposing winger has the ball near the sideline. Your fullback steps toward him, but your center back stays deep. What should your center midfielder do, and why?
The midfielder should help cover the space created by the fullback stepping out, while maintaining compactness and being ready to support the center back.
What is "parking the bus" and how do you do it?
An extreme defensive strategy where a team pulls all of their outfield players deep into their own penalty area to block the opponent from scoring