What’s a Staggered Run in Football?

Staggered Runs: The Art of Not Being in a Line

Imagine you’re playing soccer, and instead of standing in a straight line like a row of dominoes, your team is spread out in different spots—some players are closer to the goal, and others are further away. That’s a staggered run!

When your team is attacking, staggering means that players aren’t all standing in the same place. They’re spread out, which makes it harder for the other team to keep track of them. It also means there are more places to pass the ball.

When your team is defending, staggering helps too. Instead of a line of defenders that can easily be broken, they’re spread out so they can cover more of the field and make it tough for the other team to find open spaces.

How Does Staggering Work?

Imagine your team is moving up the field. Instead of all your players running in a straight line, they’re positioned at different heights—some are closer to your goal, and some are closer to the other team’s goal. This way, the other team has a harder time figuring out where to go because there are more players in different spots.

For defenders, staggering means they’re not just standing in a line. They’re spread out in a way that covers the field better. This way, they can block more passes and stop the other team from scoring.

In this image, the player with the ball is about to make a cross into the box. The attacking players are staggered in their runs, so as the ball travels across the box, each player will arrive at different times, creating multiple opportunities to score.

Why Use Staggering?

So why is staggering important? It’s a simple way to make sure your team is always in a good position, whether you’re attacking or defending. For attackers, it creates more chances to score. For defenders, it helps stop the other team from getting through. Staggering isn’t tied to any one way of playing soccer; it’s just a smart way to make your team stronger and more organized.