5 Soccer Attacking Tips from Premium "Scoring More Goals"
Long Shots, Soccer Goal Kicks, Attacking with Soccer Throw-Ins, Creating Space, a More Creative Soccer Attack

Scoring goals isn't all about skill, it has a lot to do with hustle, teamwork, winning the ball, the formation and style of play you use, and your ability as a coach to motivate your team and to put players in a position where they can help your team score. You can't turn unathletic players into great athletes or greatly improve the skill of players who don't come to practice, but there are some things you can do. The following tips are from Premium's 35 Attacking Tips, Tactics & Strategies.

1. In certain cases, encourage long shots at the top of the goal. Long shots, and even long chips, can be effective in the following cases and can result in rebound opportunities:
   
   a. Against a short goalie
   
   b. Against a slow goalie
   
   c. On a wet day or if the grass is wet (i.e., if the ball is slick a high shot is hard to hold)
   
   d. If the defenders aren't pressuring long shots (e.g., if they are packed into the Penalty Box). In this case, put some attackers in the Box for rebounds.
   
   e. If the goalie comes out of the goal a lot (i.e., "off his line").
   
   (See "Long Shots" in "The 7 Ways Most Soccer Goals Are Scored").



2. On the other teams Goal Kicks, Punts and Throw Ins, teach your players to mark up behind an opponent and step in front and steal the ball. This tactic will help your team hugely and result in more scoring opportunities. It helps both your defense, since your players will be in good position to defend if the opponent gets the ball, and it helps your offense by creating turnover opportunities. By marking behind the opponent, your players can see what the opponent is doing and if the ball goes over their head (e.g., on a Goal Kick), they can box out the opponent and have an advantage, or if the ball is short they can step in front of the opponent to win it. (See "Coaching Rules No. 1, 2, and 3").



3. Big Throw-Ins can create scoring opportunities. In one of our pre-season practices I always line everyone up to be sure they know the proper technique for an Advanced Throw-In (See "Skills" for how to teach an Advanced Throw-In). At this time, we also have a contest to see who can make the longest throw-in. If you have a player who can make a long throw-in, consider saving them for 2 occasions:
   
   a. To create a breakaway. This is possible if you are near the halfway line and the other teams FB's are pushed up. Have a fast receiver start close to the thrower and then quickly run down the line. As soon as the receiver breaks, have the thrower make a long throw down the line. Other Forwards should run toward goal for a "cross". Remember, a player is not offside if he receives the ball direct from a throw-in.
   
   b. Throw into scoring range. This is possible if the throw-in occurs in your "Attacking Third". Try to do this quickly before the other team is in position. Simply put 4 or 5 players in scoring position and have the thrower throw the ball toward them. Your attackers must fight for the ball and win it. If they have the opportunity for a quick one-touch or two-touch shot, they should take it. My team scored a goal last season this way. As a diversion, you can put a player down the sideline which may pull several defenders away from the goal.



4. Teach "Movement Off The Ball". Two simple things to teach are:
   
   1. Attackers should stay a pass apart to "create space". br>
   2. Receivers should move away from the ballhandler as he approaches them in order to "create space". (If they don't move, then their defender is in a position to pressure the ballhandler as the ballhandler gets closer to the receiver). (See "Creating Space". This is critical to a good attack).



5. Teach "Passing To Space", as opposed to "Passing To Feet". Passing to Space:
   
   a. Allows a quick counterattack
   
   b. Encourages "movement off the ball"
   
   c. Is a more creative attacking style and encourages players to think about how to use open space to advance the attack.
   
   d. Teaches attackers to be alert and opportunistic and that they must go to the ball and not wait for the ball to come to them.

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