Attacking: Developing the long game

Attacking: Developing the long game

by Paul Payne, Men's Head Coach at Bloomsburg University

Provided by The National Soccer Coaches Association of America - www.nscaa.com

Warm-up and fundamental stage

Organization:
-12 players.
-Eight players paired (blue/ white) knocking short balls to each other while freely moving around the field.
-Four neutral players (red) moving around the same area.
-When a neutral red calls for a ball from the blue pairs, the ball is served using the proper technique.
-The non-serving blue player moves to support the long pass and receives back from the neutral red player.
-The blue pairs then continue to pass short until another neutral red player is free.

- It is important that the players are properly stretched, focusing on the quadriceps and hamstrings prior to beginning this phase of the session.

Coaching Point 1:
-Ball must be "out of feet."
-Approach from a slight angle.
-"Hop" onto support foot, pointed forward, slightly behind ball. - Toe pointed down, ankle locked striking through the middle of the ball.
-Follow through to target.

After a brief stretch, demonstrate the next service of a lofted pass.

Coaching Point 2:
- Ball must be "out of feet."
- Approach from more of an angle.
- Hop onto support foot, pointed forward slightly behind ball.
- Player leans back more.
Toe pointed down, striking ball left of middle.
- Strike through ball, extending to the target.

Stretch before introducing the proper technique of bending and hooking a long ball pass.

Coaching Point 3:
- Toe pointed up at impact when hooking with inside of foot.
- Toe pointed down at impact when slicing with outside of foot.
- Kicking "across" the ball.
- Follow through is across (slicing) or away from (hooking) the body.

Main phase: Exercise 1

Organization:
- Playing in three zones across the field, divide players into three teams of four.
- Four reds play against two blue/whites in zone 1, looking to play the ball safely into zone 2, where four white players are stationed.
- Restrict to two touches and a maximum of three passes before the ball must be played into next zone.
- If the two blue/whites displace the reds of the ball in zone 1 or if the ball is not played cleanly through the neutral zone, blue/ whites play the ball into zone 2 and the waiting white players.
- Two reds must then go defend against the four whites in zone 2 while the other two reds occupy the neutral zone.
- Vary conditions to insure early success, then increase demands on the players. For example, make a tighter space in which to play or allow three defenders in.

Coaching Points:
- Make sure players are using the proper technique when choosing to serve.
- Defensive pressure will dictate what type of service is best.
- As always, communication and vision need to be stressed.

Main phase: Exercise 2

Organization:
- Divide a rectangular playing area into four zones.
- Three teams of four whites, four reds vs. four blue/whites.
- In each zone, a 10 x10 target is laid out with a white player in each target area.
- Free play, with each team looking to maintain possession until the long diagonal pass is on.
- In order to score, the ball must be played cleanly into a white target player from a diagonal zone.

Variations:
- For a point to be scored a supporting player from the servicing team must receive a one-touch pass from the white target player.
- The white player, upon receiving a quality long pass, play the ball to another white target player, who then would play the ball out to the team that successfully serviced the ball.

Coaching Point:
- In addition to the points mentioned in exercise 1, also look at how quickly players can recognize that the long diagonal pass is on and that the proper technique is executed.

Final phase: Exercise 3

Organization:
- Playing full-sided soccer with goalies, divide the field into thirds lengthwise.
- Have players look to play long balls safely from one flank zone to another flank zone.
- You also can place the restriction that the ball must be played through all three zones to encourage opening up the field, which will lend itself to more opportunities for long ball passing.
- As with any training session, always end with free play with no restrictions.
- The first principle of attack is penetration.
- Ideally you want to accomplish this by focusing on the techniques that will achieve it.
- A successful long ball pass is just one technique that can do just that.