The Art of Attacking

Defensive schemes are easy to teach, however, attacking schemes, attacking tactics, attacking skills are more complex for players, teams and coaches.  But why?  Lets take  a look.

1) Attacking Play Requires Skill
2) Attacking Play Requires Creativity, Elusiveness, Risk, Confidence
3) Attacking Play Requires Speed (Tactical Speed, Technical Speed and Physical Speed)
4)  Attacking Play Requires a Higher Level of Tactical Understanding (Creating Space, Combining With Teammates, Timing of Runs, Knowing When To Serve, Dribble, Pass or Shoot)


Training Fundamentals to Develop Your Attack:

1)  Technical Training:  Insure your attacking players are getting lots of touches in training.

       A. Possession:  Lots of possession, training your players to  think fast and play fast.  Encouraging and instructing to insure the correct choices are made throughout.  Much of this training is for players without the ball.  (How to create space, how to support the player in possession.)

       B.  Finishing: How often does a Pro Baseball Player take Hitting Practice?  How often does a Pro Golfer hit balls on the range?   How many passes does a Pro Quarterback throw in practice?  How many shots on goal do your Attacking Players get in Training?   Our players need more finishing training.

       C.  Receiving Balls, Turning Balls, Playing with Back to Goal,  Holding Off Defenders, Beating Defenders with a Dribble, Heading, Volleying etc...

       D. Dribbling Training:  Too often we forget this important skill.  Set up exercises and games to allow your players to take on their opponent with the dribble.   Lots of 1v1 Training!

2) Tactical Training:  So valuable, yet, often neglected and often misunderstood.  Attacking Tactics!  Here are some tips to get your attack on track.

      A.  Attacking Patterns:  Set up simple combinations between 2+ players and finish with a shot on goal.  Use mannequins to replicate opposing defenders.  Paint a picture for the players via various  real match like scenarios.  This empowers your attackers with ideas for breaking down your opponents defense.

      B.  Walk Throughs:  Walk your players through their options.  Walk through various choices for making runs, supporting the ball (short vs. long etc...), creating space, switching the point of attack, how to play in the back 1/3 vs. middle 1/3 vs. attacking 1/3.  How to play when your team is up a goal, down a goal and how to play in those scenarios late in the game.  Follow the top Coaches in the World and always use mannequins to present a realistic match condition and for clearer understanding.

    C.  Add a Degree of Pressure:  Move from mannequins to live players.  Test your players understanding by adding a small amount of pressure via a few  live defenders.   Add defenders as necessary to challenge the attacking choices and success.

    D.  Use this same concept with defenders as you teach  them the way to play out of the back.

    E.  Use the same concept to link defenders and mid-fielders through the middle 1/3 of the field.

    F.  Use the same concepts to link mid-fielders and strikers in the attacking 1/3 of the field.

This type of Shadow Training is used at all levels to develop attacking concepts and understanding between teammates.

These are just a few of the fundamental attacker training methods that are used world wide to develop individual and team attacking.  Help a coach by adding your thoughts, insight, ideas and successful training ideas for developing the Art of Attack.