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Switching the Point of the Attack

Introduction to Switching the Point of attack

The idea for this
section came from a seminar  that I saw Mike Smolens, Head Coach,
United States Merchant Marine Academy, do at the Suffolk County Soccer
Coaches Association winter 2000 clinic.

Takeovers

Perhaps the most fundamental
technique to switching the point of attack is to  learn how to
effectively perform a takeover.  A takeover can be defined as two
players approaching each other, one dribbling, the other running. 
The takeover occurs when the first attacker  (man with the ball)
leaves it for the support player , who takes it over and proceeds
in the opposite direction.

The man with the ball is
usually under pressure.  He draws that pressure with him. 
And when the takeover occurs, the pressure is going one way and the
ball the opposite way.

This relieves the pressure,
perhaps for only a second or two, but in many cases that may be all
that you need to make the next pass or the cross into the box.

A simple exercise to work
on the take over tactic is as follows:

End player makes a pass
to center player

Purple Dashed = 
Dribble

Green Solid = Run Without
Ball

Red  Dashed = 
Pass

Central player receives
the ball and turns.

At the midway
point,               
the player carrying the ball leaves it for the player

running
on to him and that player "takes it over".  The former
central player then proceeds to the left side of the diagram.

The player with the ball
now proceeds toward the other end player.  The end player runs
towards her and a second take over is performed.

This sequence is then repeated
throughout the exercise

Progression of the Take Over: Fundamental
Exercise

We start the same way as
we did above.

Central
player with the ball turns and looks towards the end player on the left. 

The
end player now controls what the next step is.  If the end player raises her hand, the player with
the ball makes a pass.  If she does not raise her hand, but instead
runs towards the central player, a takeover is performed

Hand Up  -- 
Pass is made

The sequence then continues
with the player controlling the ball always looking for either a hand
up for a pass or a hand down for a takeover

Progression of the Take Over: Match Related

We can now look at how
a takeover can be used in a game-like situation

Use either the corner of
a real field or create a corner with cones

The
player with the ball is in the corner defended, at first lightly (50%)
by another player.  She dribbles away from the end line drawing
the defender off the line.  A teammate makes a run at her and the
pair perform a takeover, switching the point of attack quickly.

You
now have a brief (1-2 second) window of opportunity to cross the ball
into the box.   Have a player running on if you like to take
the cross.

The
progression of this exercise is simple.  Have the defender play
75% and then full out.  If the defender starts to read the takeover Dont Make It. 
Simply keep the ball and switch it to the man running on to the goal.

Coaching Points

non-dribbler runs above dribbler (on opposite side of defense)


if dribbler uses inside of foot on ball touch, take-over is OFF;
if outside of foot, then take-over is ON


dribbler LEAVES the ball for the other player to take, opting for
quick stepover prior to takeover; dribbler should not "touch"
the ball to the other player


BOTH players should EXPLODE away (one with ball); this does not give
the defender time to read the take-over.


Player in possession, must keep the ball on the foot furthest from
the defender, to avoid the tackle


Clear communication must exist between the two players as to when
actually to take over, or both the players and coach could be embarrassed
by the outcome.

The preceding coaching
points are courtesy of a review of this exercise on the Soccer Coaching
Net by Gary Rue.

 

Simple 3 v 1 Match Related Switch the Field

The next exercise was demonstrated
by Mike Smolens at the SCSCA clinic mentioned in the introduction.

Simply set up a field 20
x 30m and divide it into two halves

Play
3 v 1 in one half of the field.  The object is to get a set number
of passes completed and then quickly switch the attack to the other
half of the field

Coaching Points

Defending player never just gives the ball back to the offense. 
She keeps it as long as possible and can even switch the field to her
teammate in the other end.


Play no restrictions, then two-touch and then one touch


When the ball is transitioned one of the offensive players must run
to the other side of the field to make the game 3 v 1 again


Offensive players must show for the ball

4 V 4 to Targets Match Related

The next exercise Mike
Smolens did was a 4 v 4 on the same size field (20 x 30).  The
object of this game was to hit a target player at the end of the field
and then quickly transition back to offense going the opposite way

Target Players

Players retreat and become
new targets

 

Progression #1 Switching the Field Laterally

The progression of this
exercise is to divide the field into sections lengthwise

Before
the ball is advanced the play has to switch the field.  This can
be done in any number of passes but the ball must go over all three
zones.

Then
look for the killer pass, splitting the two defenders and transitioning
the ball to the offensive end.

Progression #2 -  4 v 4 plus 2 No Targets

This
exercise is a simple non-directional keep-away game where points are
scored by switching the field.  Switching once laterally is 1 point. 
Switching two sections is a bonus of three points.

The logical progression
to this execs is to play 5 v 5 and remove the neutral players.

8 v 8 Match Condition Switch the Field

The last progression is
to enlarge the field to 40 x 50, place 4 goals at the end lines and
play 8 v 8.  The only restriction is that the ball has to switch
the field before each shot.

This
exercise  is a simple non-directional keep

Match Related 3 v 2 + Target (T) with a GK
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