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.
A lot of teams now play with a lone striker supported by players from midfield. The modern striker must have a number of attributes. These include running deep to receive the ball, holding the ball up, dribbling at speed and shooting with either foot. This session aims to improve these skills in a number of 1v1 exercises. MORE
This 2v1 session has players practicing a range of attacking techniques, including passing and shooting. MORE
Long passes can be a key way to open up an opposition defence or to find space on the pitch by switching play. A great way to help young players to spot longer passing options and to see beyond the first players in their line of vision. MORE
in Attacking, Small Sided Games
Obviously kids thoroughly enjoy scrimmaging and coaches can use games to teach players without them realizing they are learning. Not only does this game help players stay connected but also starts introducing finishing and expands players range of passing. MORE
This session is about developing players that are capable of scoring goals in a range of match situations. MORE
Long shots often create chaos in the penalty areas of youth teams opening up chances from rebounds and blocks. Fire your team ahead by going long against tough opposition and score from the rebound MORE
It is important for young players to recognise when the ball is passed to them by looking up at all times giving them more chance to control the ball. MORE
This session develops attacking play from both central and wide positions. Your team should firstly look to attack through the centre as that is the quickest way to the goal. However, opponents will often block these areas and therefore your team must know how to attack down the wide areas too. MORE
Possession, passing and support is vital to creating the chances that give your team the opportunity to score more goals. This is build up play to shooting at goal. MORE
A session aimed at getting players to create and utilise space in midfield. With quick passing and movement, it should help open up the opposition and make goal scoring chances. MORE
Despite the many differences between football and rugby, there are principles of rugby which can be used on the football pitch. This session does not allow any forward passing – the same as in rugby – and allows your players to work on using supporting players and using solo dribbling skills. MORE
A good final ball can create a solid scoring opportunity. The aim of this session is to get players passing like Juventus and to create scoring chances for your own Cristiano Ronaldo MORE
in Attacking, Set pieces
This was inspired by the Brazil national team. It needs space for the move to work, so think about it when your players are awarded a free-kick some 25-30 yards from goal MORE
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A couple of weeks ago I was on a course discussing what got youth players thinking during a game and how they could react to that. If their team has the ball what should they be thinking about and if they have lost the ball how should they react. MORE
By constantly probing the opposition’s defence by switching the point of the attack from side to side, eventually a space will open up that can be exploited. This session will help you teach your players how to work the ball into such posi MORE
in Attacking, Small Sided Games
The session splits the work into two parts: getting the ball wide and attacking in the final third. There are lots of individual responsibilities here, with the pitch in three parts and a job to be done in each zone. MORE
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Scoring last minute goals can be due to the opposition tiring or suddenly becoming less attacking and sitting back hoping for the final whistle – but it can also be because your team is putting in a big effort to score a winner or to rescue a point with clever use of tactics. MORE
To make your attacking midfielders effective in front of goal you need to get them to shoot at every opportunity. This session is about scoring and reacting, beating a keeper or getting past a defender. MORE
in Attacking, Small Sided Games
Use this game to teach your players how to beat stubborn defenders. This session gives the attacking team a deadline to win the ball and score goals. MORE
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When you have a fast player quick thinking is vital to giving him the ball in areas he can exploit. In this game a wide ball can be create opportunities in midfield or to get him up the pitch to go 1v1 with the keeper. MORE
This session is all about combining in tight spaces in the penalty area and creating room for a shot.You want players to be scoring and creating goals, so that’s what’s replicated in this session. MORE
It is vital to encourage inventive play in the attacking. third of the pitch, your players should practise co-ordinated forward runs off the ball that will enable them to open up space and therefore create opportunities to shoot for goal. MORE
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This session pulls defences apart with two strikers playing different roles, one higher up the pitch than the other. It gives space for clever midfielders to put attackers clear in the penalty area with space to shoot at goal. MORE
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One of the stand out features of the Premier League and the Championship in England this season has been the relation of ball possession to the number of goals scored. There's something wrong with it. MORE
