SASC – DNA 2020
Principles of Play : Attacking
Shape (Width, Depth, Height) & Mobility
“How do I teach players to spread out?”
Do players understand the concept of giving a teammate space? They will often
“spread out” because you tell them to, but do they understand why?
• Have a player stand next to a teammate with the ball:
o “Are you helping the player with the ball to dribble, pass, or shoot?”
o “Where could you go to help your teammate?”
o “What is the difference between being in space and being open?”
“In Space”
= Away from other players, but passing
channel blocked by another player.
“Open”
= Able to receive a direct pass.
Players need to think about where to move
(angle and distance of support) to stay open as
much as possible as play develops.
Compiled by: Andrew Ransome, SASC Dir. of Coaching (v.4/23)
SASC – DNA 2020
Small-sided games
2v1
• Two attackers play against a single defender.
• Attackers attempt to score at one end of the field and defender attempts to
play in the opposite direction.
• Rotate players between positions/roles.
End-zone
= Largest area to
find space.
(Similar to the
space found when
building out of the
back, or into an
opponent’s half.)
2 goals
= Either attacker
can look to
penetrate and
score.
(Use to develop
wing play and
concept of crossing
towards goal.)
1 goal
= Either attack a
small goal or a
small gate in the
middle of the field.
(Play “around” and
attack the space
“behind” the
defender.)
Compiled by: Andrew Ransome, SASC Dir. of Coaching (v.4/23)
SASC – DNA 2020
2v2 (2v1+GK)
• Two attackers play against a defender and goalkeeper.
• Use to help players understand onside/offside.
• Attacking against two lines of defenders (back and goalkeeper).
• Rotate positions/roles.
2v2 (channels)
• Each team has a left and right player who stays in their channel.
• Attack a small goal in the middle of the field.
• Rotate players so that they play both sides of the field.
Emphasis on
developing width.
(Note: a player can
defend the goal if
they are closer to
their goal than the
last cone.)
Compiled by: Andrew Ransome, SASC Dir. of Coaching (v.4/23)
SASC – DNA 2020
3v3 (channels)
• Play 3v3 with a Left, Center, and Right player on each team.
• Left and Right players stay in their channel to provide width.
• Central player can play on either side to provide support.
Emphasis on
developing width.
“Center” player
can move to
support to create
height and depth,
as well as provide
a central “pivot” to
switch play from
one side of the
field to the other.
3v3 (zones)
• Play 3v3 with a Back, Midfielder, and Forward.
• Back and Forward stay in own half to provide depth/height.
• Midfielder can play in either half to link play between back and front half.
Emphasis on
developing
height/depth.
Option (A):
Back passes to
Midfielder who
dribbles/passes
forwards.
Option (B):
Back passes to
Forward and
Midfielder runs
up to support.
(Midfielder role could be fluid to allow either player in the back half to support an attack.)
Compiled by: Andrew Ransome, SASC Dir. of Coaching (v.4/23)
SASC – DNA 2020
3v2 (2+GKv1+GK)
• 2 attackers plus a goalkeeper play against a defender and goalkeeper.
• If defender wins ball, they try and quickly shoot on opposite goalkeeper.
• Opportunity to set-up several passing opportunities.
Overlap
= Supporting
player runs
behind and
around dribbler.
Wall-pass
= Quick 1-touch
pass around
opponent.
Switch
= Pass to
opposite side of
the field.
Thru ball
= Pass ahead
into space.
3v3 (3v2+GK)
• Set up a field with a full-size goal and penalty area at one end.
• 3 attackers play against 2 defenders and a goalkeeper.
• Defending team can counter-attack to mini-goals on the half-way line.
3 attackers try
to create
different
shaped
triangles to
provide width,
depth, and
height in
attack.
Challenge:
attacking group
must try to
create a
scoring
opportunity
inside the
penalty area.
Compiled by: Andrew Ransome, SASC Dir. of Coaching (v.4/23)
SASC – DNA 2020
3v3 (2+GK)
• Each team plays with two out-field players and a goalkeeper.
• “Which player is almost always open?” (Goalkeeper = rear support/reset.)
• “Do we need a goalkeeper when we have the ball?” (GK = supports play.)
• Challenge: require a team regaining possession to play back to their own
goalkeeper to initiate an attack.
Play with a
“build-out”
line (use half-
way line) on
any
goalkeeper
possession
so that the
attacking
team can
learn to build
out of the
back.
Does the
goalkeeper
support play
on their own
throw-in?
Notes:
• When developing a concept, start with the smallest number of players
possible to unclutter and simplify the field so players can more easily see
their options (e.g., basic support = 2v1; staying onside = 2v2…)
• Overloading the team being coached gives a numerical advantage, and
usually increases the possibility of success.
• After a concept has been introduced, remove any artificial challenges
(e.g., cones on the field) and observe whether players can demonstrate
understanding. (Some concepts will take several practice sessions before
showing up in game play.)
• Progress to playing with even numbers to more closely replicate the final
game.
Compiled by: Andrew Ransome, SASC Dir. of Coaching (v.4/23)
SASC – DNA 2020
“Attack vs Defense”
• Divide group according to position: GK + backs vs. midfielders + forwards
• Midfielders + forwards attack a full-size goal.
• GK + backs attempt to stop attacking group and counter-attack to small
goals. (At this point they are “attacking” while the mids+forwards “defend.”)
• Use different restarts: (e.g., kick-off, goal-kick, corner-kick, throw-in.)
• Rotate players between positions.
In the above example, the preferred game-day formation (1-2-3-1) is being taught
with each team possessing multiple lines of field players. The coach can either
work with the unit defending the big goal (GK + backs + mid) or the unit attacking
the big goal (mids + forward) to establish roles associated with each position.
Note: Player roles will change depending on whether the group of players is in
possession of the ball (attacking) or does not have possession (defending).
The coach may also want to think about playing style within their own (back) half
of the field (safety to prevent goals) versus playing style in their opponents’
(front) half of the field (risk to score goals).
Compiled by: Andrew Ransome, SASC Dir. of Coaching (v.4/23)
SASC – DNA 2020
“Team vs. Rest”
• Create a full-size team and play against the rest of the players.
• If there are no additional players, the coaches can step in to create some
opposition so that players need to think about choices with the ball
(dribble, pass, or shoot) and how to move to create appropriate support.
• This creates an overload in favor of the team, which will hopefully allow
them to be successful in possessing and penetrating with the ball.
• Use different restarts: (e.g., kick-off, goal-kick, corner-kick, throw-in.)
• Rotate players between groups and positions.
In this 7v7 format example, a full team
is training to play out of the back on a
goal-kick in a 1-3-1-2 formation. The
goal is to progress the ball out to one
of three mini-goals on the half way
line.
(The opposing players are positioned
behind the build-out line as required in
the game. The additional number of
available players will determine the
number of opposing players.)
In this 7v7 format example, one team
is playing with all of their field players
in a 2-3-1 formation against a
goalkeeper and strategically placed
opponents.
The goal is try to create and finish as
many goal-scoring opportunities as
possible.
(The opposing team tries to quickly
play the ball back to the coach.)
Note: The expectation is that the team with more players will be successful, but
this is not always the case as attacking players may not always see the best
option available, and a smaller, well-organized defense can be highly effective in
disrupting the flow of the game.
Try to coach only the full team and one concept at a time, otherwise the activity
can be confusing. Maintain the flow of play, so that players have the opportunity
for as much repetition as possible.
Compiled by: Andrew Ransome, SASC Dir. of Coaching (v.4/23)