Principles of Attack

Sunday, 08 March 2009 20:34

The Game - Football Strategy, Training and Parenting

(Based on the USSF Coaching Schools)

Soccer is a fluid game in which the player who has possession of the ball must always have several options to pass the ball. The more options a player has, the less likely he/she is to lose possession. Therefore, it is necessary for players without the ball to quickly help the player with the ball. Attackers look to make the attack unpredictable by improvising. When an attacker gets the ball these priority principles should be on all attackers’ minds:

A. Penetration – The act of playing the ball behind defenders. Depending where the player is on the field they can decide to shoot, pass to a teammate that has penetrated the defense or has taken up a better position to penetrate, or simply dribble past the opponent. Penetration is the first goal of the attack.

B. Depth (support) – When we refer to depth in attack we are talking about support play. Good depth provides the player on the ball with all around support so that there are options to play the ball forward, square or back. The more options a player has, the less likely they will lose the ball. Teams must not only look to spread the ball wide, but create depth in an attempt to spread out the defense and create space to attack. Good support play is achieved when there are good angles of support, proper distance of support and speed of support, depending on how much pressure there is on the ball. The shape most often seen in good support play is a diamond (or triangle). Players who stand or run to create straight lines are destroying support and risk losing possession of the ball by eliminating options for the player with the ball.

C. Mobility – Movement is necessary in the game so that players can create space for themselves or for their teammates. Good mobility involves moving swiftly and taking up new positions in support of the ball. Players without the ball need to "unbalance" the opponent’s defense by running into positions that will create scoring opportunities or create space for the teammates near the ball by acting as decoy.

D. Width – When a team is in possession of the ball it has to use all the area available in which to play. Successful teams use all the width of the field and as much of the length (depth) as the offside rule will allow. They position players in such a way that they can use every inch of space across the whole playing surface. Creating width provides opportunities to attack on either side of the field and up the middle of the field.

E. Improvisation – There are many times when players have to use their own individual flair to create passing or shooting opportunities to themselves or teammates. Clever dribbling or inter-passing eliminates defenders and creates openings for attackers. Players who have the ability to turn quickly, evade challenges easily, shoot off balance or even perform their own "tricks" to create opportunities are an asset of a team.

F. Balance - Balance in attack so not to be acceptable to counterattack. Even the most adventurous attacking team must not throw caution to the wind and have all players rushing forward at the same time; a loss of possession would leave them vulnerable to counterattack.

G. Communication - Visual and verbal. Players must communicate their intentions and responsibilities clearly and precisely through verbal and visual cues.

H. Attacking relative to the match situation - Time, score, etc. How much time is left in the game and how many goals do we need? Tournament play?