Attacking when Opponents are in Balance
Key coaching points:
Weight, accuracy and timing of the pass; patience; first-touch; body-shape when receiving; moving the ball quickly to stretch the opposition; maintaining possession to allow team to regain shape; decision-making; creating overloads.
Coaching tip #1: Moving the ball moves the opposition...can the players use this knowledge to create space and open up opportunities?
Coaching tip #2: Quick-passing can confuse the opposition,
can this be something to be worked on in training?
Attacking when Opponents are in Balance
1 Combination Play
2 Exploiting space in midfield 1
3 Exploiting space in midfield 2
4 Forward passing in advanced areas
5 Quick passing in a small-sided game
6 Quick play around the penalty area
7 Spreading out to maintain & exploit space
8 Spreading play in a small-sided game
9 Build-up play
10 Phase of play attacking practice
Attacking when Opponents are out of Balance
Key coaching points:
Counter-attacking; supporting front players; creating and exploiting the overload; moving the ball quickly under control; initiating attack quickly once in possession; assessing play whilst moving quickly with the ball.
Coaching tip #1: Klopp's Dortmund team found success through electric transitions from defence to attack. Can your team mimic this with fast, ground passing?
Coaching tip #2: Decision-making is essential, present players with different scenarios to exploit an unbalanced opposition as swiftly as possible.
Defensive Play whilst in Balance
Key coaching points:
Positioning to intercept; angles of distance and support to the pressurising defender; organising against a counter-attack; keeping sight of the ball when marking and covering; patience; discipline; communication.
Coaching tip #1: Communication and discipline is vital, ensure this is rewarded in sessions.
Coaching tip #2: Upon gaining possession, can the defender transition forward quickly or would retaining the ball make more sense?
Defensive Play whilst Out of Balance
Key coaching points:
Organisation when faced with numerical superiority; pressing and delaying tactics to allow recovery; denial of passing
lanes; working together; communication; staying on feet.
Coaching tip #1: By delaying the attacker, team-mates can make recovery runs to assist...can this be worked into a session?
Coaching tip #2: Defending is essential but can struggle to motivate players! Make sessions rewarding and meaningful.
Finishing
Key coaching points:
First touch setting up opportunity to strike at goal; movement to receive ball in a half-turned position; combination-play to produce strikes on goal; striking at goal with accuracy and placement.
Coaching tip #1: All players love shooting sessions; encourage shot-selection when in 1v1 with GK.
Coaching tip #2: Can the striker disguise their strike at goal to buy themselves an advantage? How?
