Timing in Communication
FineSoccer Drills Newsletter - Timing in Communication
Too often a young player will call for the ball because they are open, the player with the ball will take a few more touches and then a few seconds later, will play the ball to the player who called for the ball who is now completely covered. The player who passed the ball can't understand why this player called for the ball if they were already covered and the player who called for the ball can't understand why the ball was passed to the opponent.
The key for players to understand is when a player calls for the ball, it means they are open RIGHT THEN. Situations on a soccer field are constantly changing and just because a player called for the ball at one moment, doesn't mean they will still be open the next moment.
This situation seems to occur most frequently when a player calls for a back pass, and when the player isn't able to turn and go forward, will pass the ball blindly back because they heard the call "back" a short time earlier. Not only should a player not make a blind pass backwards, but this is also a prime example of the player having to understand not only the meaning of a call but also the timing of a pass.
As long as you understand that when you have a ball and you hear someone call for the ball, they are calling for it NOW and not later and if you don't play it right away (which is fine, you certainly don't have to always play a ball just because someone calls for the ball), the situation will change and you shouldn't expect the same situation to exist a few seconds later.
If you are a player off the ball and you call for the ball and don't receive it right away and you are still open, continue to call for the ball because the player with the ball, once they didn't play it the first time, has no reason to believe that you are still open so continue to call for the ball if you are still available (or put yourself in an even better position and call for the ball again.
As a general rule, when a player calls for the ball (such as when they call "back" or "square" they really mean "back NOW" or "square NOW" and either play it right away, or realize that it might not be available a moment later.