Oct, 2007

TRAINING 1v1 ATTACKING TACTICS

The Base. The base of a player is built upon solid Individual Technical Ability with the ball and the Individual Tactics that allow the player to use that ability to beat an opponent 1v1. Here is a training session that creates an excellent environment for young players to learn about 1v1 Attacking Tactics both via Discovery and via the Coaching Points brought out by the trainers.

Discovery Method. As always, the best way for the trainers to assist the player in discovery is to setup situations that will tend to lead the player to specific insights. In addition, the trainers can reinforce the coaching points or further assist discovery with Socratic Method type questioning (open-ended questions beginning with what, when, how much, how many, and following up with why. Naturally, to maximize learning, the trainers should never tell the players how to play but rather guide the players toward thoughtful solutions to soccer problems thru the activities and the discussions.

Tactical Sessions for Young Players. The focus for our youngest players needs to be both Technical Development (ball skills, movement skills, etc.) and Tactical Development (decision making, how to, etc.). Tactical training for the youngest players should be focused on Individual Tactics (1v1 Attacking/Defending, 2v1 Attacking, etc.) This training session is therefore appropriate for very young players. The coaching points and the demands placed on the players to get it right should be adjusted to the age/level of the players. The players can only learn when the demands of the activity (as controlled by the trainers) is appropriate for their intellectual, psychological and motor skills.

Activity 1 - 1v1 to End-lines Continuous Action. This is an opening activity which can be started as the first few players arrive, allowing the early arrivals to get playing and the later arrivals to join in as they come. Each player has a ball. It's best that players position themselves near the corners so that attacking players don't run into them when scoring a goal. Each time an attacker dribbles over the goal-line a new attacker from that same goal-line comes out with a ball and starts a new attack going the opposite direction. A point is only scored when the ball is dribbled over a goal-line with control on both sides of the line. It is important to enforce in particular the rule that the player must finish the movement with a final touch in the space beyond the goal-line because this is the habit that will lead to finishing 1v1 attacking movements with possession in behind the defender. The activity can be played where the goal scorer stays in play as the new defender or where a new defender enters the play from the end opposite where the goal is scored. This will depend on whether the desired demands of the game should be to go 1v1 frontal or to surge into open space and seal off the pursuing defender. Defenders who win the ball should be permitted to attack the opposite goal-line. When the ball goes out of bounds on the sidelines, a dribble-in by the appropriate player should restart play. 1v1 battles should continue until a goal is scored. Keep running tally of points. Play rounds up to a prescribed number (e.g., first to 10 goals). Winning team gets to make the other team do 5 exercises (push-up, sit-up, star jumps, forward rolls, etc.)

Activity 2 - 2v2 to Diagonal Goals. This is the main activity of the training session. This a game designed to provide many 1v1 attacking opportunities. Each team of 2 players can attack 2 goals positioned diagonally across from each other. Therefore, any player on the ball at any time will likely have a goal they can attack with 1 opposing player defending it, thus creating the 1v1 attacking situations continuously. Goals are scored by dribbling over the respective goal-lines with a controlling touch on the other side of the goal-line. Balls out of bounds should be restarted with a kick-in/dribble-in option. Keep score. Play 2-4min rounds. Rotate teams. Playing a promotion-relegation format where teams move up and down a ladder of fields based on results is good because it tends to match teams of similar ability against one another.

Activity 3 - 1v1 to 2 Goals Contest (aka, The Killer Touch Game). Bring 4 teams together from the 2v2 game above to make 2 teams with 4 players each. In the flow of the overall training session this is a Corrective Exercise, intended to help the players focus on specific points that will help them to meet the demands of the game. This is a simplified environment where the coaching points can be highlighted. The attacking player attacks from one end-line into either of the 2 goals at midfield. A point is scored for getting thru either goal with control on the opposite half (usually just 1 touch required). The defending player starts from midfield between the 2 goals. The defenders objective is to prevent the attacker from getting thru either of the goals and getting the controlling touch on the opposite half. When an attack is over (goal, ball out of the playing area, defender gets controlling touch), the attacker continues will ball to opposite end. All players from the attacking team go in order, attacking back and forth for a prescribed number of tries (e.g., 4 attacks each). Teams switch roles. Keep score. Team with more points gets to make the other team do 5 exercises.

Activity 4 - 2v2 to Diagonal Goals. Repeat the initial activity and assess improvement. One effective teaching method is to repeat the main activity (typically the game) at the end to see how the session has improved the players. On the topic of improvement, the trainers can question the players regarding how the improved, why they are more effective, and what areas they still need to work on, etc.

Coaching Points. As the training session is a Tactical Session, the coaching points here are Tactical. The guiding done by the trainers should be focuses around the tactical points. Another training session would likely provide a better environment for learning the Technical Points of dribbling and running with the ball. This session is designed to help the players to apply their technical abilities to beat defenders 1v1.

	1v1 ATT
	Run at Def, Gather Momentum
	Measured Touch to Space in front of Def
	Use Deception (Feint or Fake)
	Killer Touch into Space Behind Def
	Killer Touch best with Outside of Foot
	Use of Body, Win Space Around Ball
	Win the Next Touch, Seal Off Def

Note - This same session organization can be used to train 1v1 Defending Tactics with the following coaching points.

	1v1 DEF
	Close Down Space
	Contain, Match Momentum, Steer Att
	Patience, Wait for Mistake/Killer Touch
	Use of Body, Win Space Around Ball
	Win the Ball

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