Attacking Principles of Play

 

 

Ian Barker, Director of Coaching Education at United Soccer Coaches, explains the five core concepts.  1. Penetration, 2. Support, 3. Mobility, 4. Width, and 5. Improvisation, Creativity and Surprise.

Contributing coaches are Gwynne Williams, Executive Director, Issaquah Soccer Club; Charlie Slagle, Chief Executive, Capital Area Soccer League; Rene Miramontes, Director of Coaching, San Diego Crusaders; Robert Parr, Director of Coaching, Arkansas State Soccer Association.

 

 

What’s inside?

23 great sessions to help you coach the 5 fundamental attacking principles to your players. The principles are:

 

1. Penetration

With the help of this great book, you can teach your players how to break through a defence by dribbling, shooting, running or passing. No matter how young they are, you can coach this principle to your players.

 

2. Support

A key part of your team plan must be to help the player who is in possession of the ball. Support attackers provide forward, backward and sideways options to the attacker with the ball and this manual offers great options to help you win matches.

 

3. Mobility

Attackers make runs into different areas of the field in order to draw defenders out of their positions. This attacking manual will teach you about the more advanced aspect of ‘elusive movement’.

 

4. Width

The attacking team attempts to stretch the opponent’s defensive shape. This section will teach you how to destroy the compact tightness of a defence by creating attacks along the flanks of the pitch.

 

5. Improvisation, Creativity & Surprise

Although not an easy part to the game to teach, attackers must try to break down defences by employing the element of surprise. Coaches must ‘brave the percentages’ meaning you must be willing to accept that in order to reap the benefits of exciting and creative players, there will be a unsuccessful attempts at first.