Role of Second Attacker "Commit and Connect"

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:
Warm up with easy passing, numbers passing is a great option but really any passing and moving will do including fun games.

Restricted:
Begin with one v one to lines, progress to two v one to lines, progress to two v two to lines with the emphasis on the second attacker

One goal with counters:
This game is really the same as the one played previously except that there is a team going to large goal and one team going to a small goal. The team to the large goal is numbers up and should score often. The team to the counter is less likely to score but should counter quickly. Progress to two v two

Two goals:
The session ends with two v two to large goals building into 4 v4 to large goals.

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”
• B in position to support the ball
• Support on good angles
• Check to balls on seams
• Establish good length and width creating seams and space, spreading the defense apart
• Close the gap on the defender taking angles away and making combination play easier
  

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

1v1, 2v1 and 2v2

• Play to lines in a 30 x 10
• Red play ball in to blue.
• Blue receive and attack Red.
• If blue wins-make it take it. New blue attacks new red
• If Red wins, turn away and play back to red
• Attacker who lost ball is now defender
• If ball goes out attacker is loser so he defends
• vs. new red who dribbles out with ball.
• Attacker must beat with dribble.
• Progress to 2v1 (attackers will have great success)
• Progress to 2v2 (game should even out)

Coaching Points:

• See Role of first Attacker for coaching points.
• Show to the ball in support cutting down the angle
• First attacker get in hard and fast, second attacker get wide for support.
• Look to play quick and use combinations to create
• If you give the ball up transition quickly to defense
  

• 2v1 with blue attacking. First attacker engages defender, second gets wide, closes angle and plays back to the first attacker to get to the endline. Of course the second attacker can dribble as well.

2 v 1 and 2v2 to goal and counter goals

• Play in a 30 x 15
• Same game as above except the ball always starts with red playing into blue.
• Two blues come out versus one defender and play two v one to goal.
• Red plays to counter attack goals
  

Coaching Points:

• Look to use combinations to beat the defenders
• Attack quickly
• First create width, then close the gap on the defender to create.
• Can you think a pass or two ahead?
  

2v2 – 5v5 with large goals

• Play in a 40x 30
• Balls always start with the keepers.
• Start with 2v2 progress to 5v5
• Play to big goals.
  

Coaching Points:

• Look to use combinations to beat the defenders
• Attack quickly
• First create width, then close the gap on the defender to create.
• Can you think a pass or two ahead?
• Can you get behind the D?