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Space Cowboy | Doctor Diagnoso

Doctor Diagnoso

In Doctor Diagnoso, the smaller of two teams poses in different defensive systems. The larger team must diagnose each system, and exploit its weaknesses. In the diagram, the smaller white team is using a Sweeper system. The coach has already walked through that system and some ideas for beating it. The larger black team is applying those ideas.

Rules for Doctor Diagnoso

Field Setup. The field is as wide as a regular soccer field, and about half as long. The exact size will depend on the size of the teams. A regulation-size goal is at one end of the field, and a small goal is at the other end.
Teams. Lopsided teams are created by giving one team more players than the other—6 v 4, 7 v 5, 9 v 6, or 10 v 7. The smaller team has a Keeper, and defends the regulation-size goal. The larger team has no Keeper, and defends the small goal.
Preparatory Phase. Before play begins, the coach walks through at least three feature defenses, and at least two ideas for exploiting each defense. The coach then huddles privately with the smaller team, and assigns one of the defenses: Sweeper with Marking Backs, Flat Back Four, etc.
How the Game Proceeds. As play begins, both teams attempt to score goals. The regular rules of soccer apply, including the offside rule. The smaller team must use the assigned defense.      Before scoring, the larger team must figure out the defense it’s facing—by moving, passing, and watching the smaller team’s responses. At least one player on the larger team must correctly identify the defense, by calling out its name. Goals scored before this happens don’t count.        After three minutes, the coach huddles with the smaller team again, and assigns a different defense. When play resumes, the larger team must identify the new defense. The game continues until at least three defenses have been attacked. Players may rotate from one team to the other.

Doctor Diagnoso is an every-now-and-then activity. Continue adding feature defenses. And let the smaller team change defenses on its own, while the game is in progress. The larger team must then diagnose each change before scoring.

Now you need some ideas for attacking the defenses. Think up your own ideas, or find more in the book Thoughtful Soccer. Walk through the ideas before a game of Doctor Diagnoso, and bring highlight them during the game with coachable moments. Soon, your players will recognize defenses and attack them thoughtfully.