The Forward's Edge

Lesson 01 · ~14 min · Assumes a 4-3-3 — adjust to your team's system

Off-ball movement

You already have the hardest thing to coach: speed. What turns speed into goals is knowing when the defender is vulnerable and when the passing window opens.

There's a difference between being open and being dangerous. Open means a teammate could pass to you. Dangerous means if she does, something good happens. This lesson is about being dangerous — as the central #9, or as a wide forward (#7 / #11).

And feeling unsure where to be off the ball is normal. It's a skill made of a few repeatable habits. Here they are.

Chapter 1 of 70/7 complete

Chapter 01

Scan before you move

Every good run starts with a look. Before the ball comes anywhere near you, you need a picture: where is my defender, where is she looking, and which way is my teammate facing?

Scanning is just short, quick glances over your shoulder — not long stares. Think of it like checking your mirrors before changing lanes: quick, regular, and always before you move.

  • Glance once as the ball travels to the teammate who might pass to you.
  • Glance again as she takes her touch. That second look tells you what's changed.
  • Ask: where's the CB or full-back? Is she watching the ball or me? What's the passer's body shape?

A defender may keep you and the ball in view with an open body shape. When she turns toward the ball, check whether you're outside her view — her blind side. Use that advantage when the passer can play you.

Defender watching the ball, Eva on the blind side and a forward-facing passer.offside boundary89711blind sidehead up
Look at the defender, then the passer. Blind side helps only if the pass is available.
Opponent tight to the passer: Eva offers a short angled outlet.89
Same shoulder, different picture: pressure on the passer means show for feet.
  • Eva
  • Teammate
  • Opponent
  • Ball
  • Eva's run
  • Pass

Micro-habit: glance → find the defender's blind side → move.