Role of Second Attacker "Support the Attack"

Purpose:

The role of the second attacker is to support the ball.  Any player in immediate support of the ball is the second attacker as they have a direct impact on the play of the game.  The second attacker must understand how to take defenders out of the game by closing angles, by supporting at good angles and by moving into space that is dangerous.  The second attacker is the player who breaks the game wide open when playing properly.

Equipment:

Cones, pinnies, balls.

Progression:

Unrestricted:
This exercise has players moving without pressure of player but only time and space. Balls are slowly added as success is achieved. Players are working on moving into space so they can play the way they face.

Restricted:
The game becomes 3 v1 with three attackers v one defender is a small grid. The players learn how to move in and out of passing lanes keeping the ball moving while receiving across their body.

One goal with counters:
This is played without goals. It is 2 v1 as the two in possession are playing keep away from the defender while looking to use wall passes, takeovers and overlaps to maintain possession.

Two goals:
This is small sided games in team shape with an emphasis on attacking

Coaching Points:

• Play the way you face
• Receive to open space
• Move to a space for easy reception
• Think at least one pass ahead
• Keep the ball moving
• Check to the ball, knock it down, then play it
• “Can you be in support before ball is received by the player passing to you”
  

Activity

Setup

Numbered Passing in a 50x40

• Players number off 1 thru 15 (if there are 15 players)
• 1 plays 2, 2 plays 3 ……15 plays 1
• Begin slow, progress to two touch
• Begin with one ball, then two, the three, up to half the number of players plus one or two (twenty players could use 10-12 balls, this is very quick and advanced, however)
• See how long they can keep the balls moving without making mistakes. The more balls in the more important the principles of play and support become.

Coaching Points:

• Play the way you face
• Receive to open space
• Move to a space for easy reception
• Think at least one pass ahead
• Keep the ball moving
• Check to the ball, knock it down, then play it
• “Can you be in support before ball is received by the player passing to you”
  

Notice #5, 7 and 9 all move into space so the player passing can play the way he faces

3 v 1 Possession

• Play in a 12x10
• 90 second games, then switch
• 3 attackers v one defender
• Use width to create space
• Receive across body
• Move to support the ball

Coaching Points:

• Receive across body to space, use two touch
• Move to support, play quickly
• To the right red takes away one lane so blue plays safe as the third blues moves to support

2v1 in a 12x10

• Two attackers v one defender
• One point for every takeover, wall pass or overlap
• Play for 90 seconds, then switch
  

Coaching Points:

• Show to the ball to make the angle better for wall passes
• Play quick, use deception, receive across your body
• Look for takeovers and overlaps to get into open space.

3v3 to lines with corner targets

• Play in a 35 x 20
• Three v three with two targets for each team
  Find the target, receive back, dribble across the line for one point.
• Make it, take it.
  

Coaching Points

• Close down on defender taking angle away
• Keep ball moving
• Play quick balls
• Look to wall pass, overlap and takeover to combine
• Progress to 4v4 with large goals dribble vs when to engage then pass