Counter attacking
The ability to invite pressure on your defence then launch a rapid counter can devastate your opponents. MORE
Attacking
The attacking soccer drills in this section aim to help you coach your players to make the most of the opportunities that come their way during a game. We look at ways to create chances for your attackers, small-sided games that will sharpen their reactions in front of goal, and tips on how to coach your attackers to be goal-machines.
Under pressure
This is all about teamwork and teammates using the ball or stopping opponents from winning it. Press hard and the defenders will win the three balls in the fastest time – the clock starts ticking the second the first ball is kicked so players must move quickly. MORE
Attacking in twos
Attacking in twos can be easy against a single defender. However, take away the overload advantage and your attackers’ decision making will be really tested. MORE
10 things to work on in training
in Attacking, Email newsletters
For a possession-based game players need to be competent with ball control and decision making. Poor first touch or taking the wrong decision to dribble or pass will result in losing the ball. MORE
The scoring box
In a small-sided game, goals scored from quick one- and two-touch combination play count double. This rewards play that has been practiced and developed earlier in the session. MORE
Cross fire
Good communication between attackers is vital for a successful partnership because occupying the same area makes space easier to defend. “Cross fire” encourages your attackers to build an understanding of the runs they must make to create space. MORE
Running on to through passes
Your players need to be able to spot gaps in the opposition defence and exploit them by showing good pace to get in behind them in order to cross or shoot at goal. MORE
Create space
This game encourages teams to switch play and to create space away from the ball – it is a condition of the game that teams must switch before they can score a goal. MORE
Hit wide areas
in Attacking, Small Sided Games
This session focuses on hitting wide areas with the use of group attacks and switching. It works on the basic play used to develop attacking moves to get from one third to the next to create goal scoring chances. MORE
PODCAST Developing play in the attacking third
In this podcast Dave Clarke talks to Tony Mee about his session in Elite Soccer aimed at developing play in the attacking third, one that coaches players to finish from balls crossed into the penalty area. Tony explains the coaching points, what to say to players and talks about good coaching practice MORE
2 v 1 Attacking choice
This practice includes different 2 v 1 choice games. The player in possession passes to a team mate of his choice and then supports to make a 2 v 1 situation. MORE
Two touch target
Use this realistic shooting session to coach your players to receive a ball played to the edge of the penalty area and shoot with their second touch MORE
Blast past the defender
This series of drills will help your attackers take on defenders in crucial 1v1 battles. This is an important skill all players need because there are so many one-on-one encounters everywhere on the pitch. MORE
Hungry strikers
The term “hungry striker” is given to an attacker who has a burning desire to score. Players like Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez are prime examples. They work hard for the team by pressuring opposition defenders in order to win the ball or force a mistake. MORE
The Brazilian
Using a full back as an offensive weapon was made popular by the Brazilian national team. This session will help you develop “Brazilian” full backs in your team, giving it greater numbers in offence and increasing your attacking options. MORE
Build up into attack
in Attacking, Small Sided Games
This session is all about creating overloads while playing out from the back, through midfield and into attack, creating 1v1, 2v1, 2v2 and 3v2 situations. MORE
The Messi challenge
Lionel Messi’s attacking ability from both wide and central areas is unrivalled. Get your players to copy him in the Messi challenge – a session that will give them the confidence to attack from any position. MORE
Attack-defend-attack
in Attacking, Small Sided Games
Use this session as a way of getting fast breaking teams to tear through a static defence and create lots of goalscoring chances. In this game players are working in groups to beat a defence in a transition type of situation which will happen often in matches. MORE
The fast way to score goals
in Attacking, Email newsletters
Attacking and counter attacking at speed is all about the players on your team being aware of what is happening around them and communicating between themselves so they all move at speed into the right areas at the right time. MORE
Powerplay
This session is inspired by the ice hockey final at the Olympic Winter Games. Canada were leading 2-1 with seconds left. The USA coach removed his goalkeeper to give his team a player overload and this led to the equalising goal, and overtime. The USA lost, but the coach’s bravery deserved more. MORE
Clever combination play can deliver fast attacks
in Attacking, Email newsletters, Passing
I work my players every training session on keeping the ball. Small sided passing games that are opposed in overload situations are a key way to getting players used to keeping the ball by passing and moving under pressure. MORE
Scoring from crosses
in Attacking, Email newsletters
Scoring from crosses is a sure fire way of making sure the ball hits the back of the net – crosses from wingers contribute to more goal chances than anything else in the game, so making sure you include sessions on scoring from crosses in your training schedule is vital to the success of your team. MORE
Fast breaks
This session is designed to develop counter attacking breaks. The players will learn to pass forward and make quick supporting runs in order to get forward and create goal scoring opportunities. MORE
Winning combinations
in Attacking, Small Sided Games
This session helps attackers to understand how their movement and position in relation to the player nearest the ball can effect the play. MORE
