Be a better Forward/Attacker!

Hey Coach! I’m a forward for my team and I want to score more goals…any tips?

Good question..I have played that position a lot!

First of all let me say that it may seem that I put too much information in the following paragraphs. I’m a coach and I tend to ramble on sometimes trying to give my players as many ideas as possible in a training session. My hope is that you can take from this article what you need to give you a better understanding of your position and how to be a dangerous attacker for your team. I went ahead and addressed the responsibilities of left and right wings separately from strikers that way you can skip through parts if needed. Of course it would be beneficial to read all of it because you never know where your team may need you!!

Wingers

*Offensive Responsibilities*

• Apply wide play down the sidelines to open the opponent up for attacking options

• Create overlaps and wall pass combinations with strikers and mids to confuse the opponent with movement
• When making attacking runs down the sideline try to beat the last defender to get a cross into the box or drop the ball to a supporting player out of pressure
• Look to make diagonal runs behind the defensive back line and try and cut off defenders to create a through-ball option for your mids ect.
• Provide crosses in the air, from the baseline, or across the goal to set up the strikers, mids or other wings
• Read the play from the other side of the field and be in position to finish!!
• ASK QUESTIONS TO YOURSELF LIKE……When do I need to get wide and call for a switch ball? When do I need to squeeze the field and make a diagonal run that cuts off a defender? Can I make space for myself on the sideline? Am I faster than the defensive back line? Can I take them on 1v1 or should I take them wide and drop the next ball? Where is the diagonal run between the defenders? How can I disappear and be forgotten about and then surprise the opponent with a clever run or play?

Every player on the field has defensive responsibilities as well so here are a few……

*Defensive Responsibilities*

• Apply pressure to the opponents back line to help win the ball back for your team
• Anticipate the opponents midfield and try to intercept drop passes to the defensive line
• Help your midfielders squeeze the field and the other team aggressively to cut off passing lanes and cause mistakes with pressure
• Help mark-up players goal side of the ball on indirect kicks or corners or help create a wall to block free kicks
• Offensive players MUST TRACK BACK and help with defensive pressure. Forwards that believe they are only on the team to play offense and make runs at goal will never be a complete soccer player. Tracking back also puts you in a great position to transition with you team into attack mode when the ball is won back.
• ASK QUESTIONS TO YOURSELF LIKE……..Where does my team need me to apply pressure? Does the opponent drop the ball back and can I cut those passes off? Does the opponent have more midfielders and do I need to help more with pressure? Where can I be sneaky and intercept passes? Do the back line defenders bobble the ball and can I press them into a mistake? Where am I needed on set plays, corner kicks, goal kicks etc?

STRIKERS OR CENTER FORWARD

*Offensive Responsibilities*

• You are with out a doubt your teams finisher!! You must crave the ball in front of goal and have a strong desire to shoot and score goals
• You must understand that the team and coaches tend to rely on you to put the ball in the net. A goal can come from anywhere but typically the responsibilities comes down to you, and you must accept this pressure and use it to fuel you in the game
• Sometimes things may get ugly because you must always be fighting to clean up loose balls, trash balls, and following shots in to recover rebounds or bobbles
• Make yourself open and unmarked so you are available to finish off crosses from mids or wings
• Hold off defenders so you can turn and shoot or finish crosses
• Make diagonal and or circle runs that create chances for the mids and wings to connect with you. Your run dictates where they should pass to you so try and make it count!!
• Do not hide in the opponents back line. Always be moving to confuse and open up the defense, you want them to worry about what the heck you are up to!! If they commit to marking up on you then it may open space a team mate to do something dangerous!
• Be available to hold up the defensive players with your back to goal. This allows you to create drop ball plays, outside angled passes, and through-balls for your other attackers
• Shape your body in a way to create a quick pass that sets up your team mate for a shot. Assists are many times more rewarding than goals!!
• Set up wall-pass combinations with your other attackers
• ASK QUESTIONS TO YOURSELF LIKE……Am I faster than the back line? Does the goalie come out to far? Does the goalie or the back line defenders bobble the ball? Does the goalie throw or punt the ball weak? Are the teams goal kicks weak and where can I intercept them? How can I make runs to cut off defenders? If I make movements or runs, do the defenders follow me out of position? Can I make space or draw defenders for my wings and mids? How can I surprise the opponent? Where should I make my run for a wing to cross to me?

Even the Striker is part of the defensive mission to win the ball back……..

*Defensive Responsibilities*

• You are the first line of defense for the team by pressing the opponents back line when they have the ball. This pressure help to shut down drop passes and play out of the back.
• Applying pressure and paying attention to where the play may go can help you to cut off switch passes across the back line
• If your team has retreated and is absorbing pressure from the opponent then you must press from behind the other team midfielders so to break up the rhythm of their passing. * this is very important because you can surprise them from behind and steal the ball or cause a big mistake!
• Think of yourself as a player that is free from marking up specific players and free to terrorize whomever you want to disturb the play!
• On corner kicks or deep free kicks you typically will not mark anyone but be available to win the ball and start the new attack for your team
• ASK QUESTIONS TO YOURSELF LIKE……Which foot does the defender use the most for passing, clearing, and controlling the ball? Does He/She have a weak side? Does He/She bobble the ball or have a bad touch I can pressure? Does the opponent make drop balls that I can cut off or intercept? Can I pressure and surprise the play maker or one of the mids? Where can I terrorize the other team so they can make mistakes?

Please remember the“Forward” position is just a name for where you play on the field. Too many times players, parents, and coaches believe as a forward your only job is to run the ball down and shoot, shoot, shoot!! The game of Futbal/Soccer is meant to be played with grace, creativity, intelligence, deception, speed and strength working together with a team of players. If you can improve your game a little every week by applying the principles in this article then you will find yourself scoring more goals. The magic formula for becoming a great goal scoring forward is growing as a complete player bit by bit. The learning is never over. The goal will never be reached. You must commit to becoming more of a person and player day by day. You will win games, score goals and should enjoy those moments. You will also lose games, miss easy shots so use them as lessons for improvement. I wish you goals, assists, hat-tricks and all the best that the game has to offer you!

See you out on the field,

Coach Sam

Be Creative..Be Fearless..Have Fun!