www.worldclasscoaching.com

© WORLD CLASS COACHING

New York Power - WUSA

Contributed by Tom Sermanni, former head coach of the Australian Women’s National Team and the WUSA’s New York

Power. The session highlights exercises for attacking runs - “Going to Goal” .

Diagram 30

Practices Without Defenders

An attacking run to ‘get in behind’ defenders:

• X1 checks to S1

• X1 receives a pass from S1

• X1 passes the ball back to S1 and spins out

• S1 passes the ball ‘in front’ of X1 to allow X1 to run

onto it and finish

Coaching Points

• Quality and timing of runs

• Timing, angle and types of runs

• Selection of pass, e.g. to feet, into space, on the ground

or in the air

Diagram 31

Practices Without Defenders

An attacking run ‘across the front’ of defenders:

• X1 checks to S1

• X1 receives a pass from S1

• X1 passes the ball back to S1 and makes a lateral run

across the area

• S1 passes into the path of X1

• X1 controls the pass and dribbles to goal before

finishing

Diagram 32

Practices Without Defenders

An attacker making a ‘lateral run’ to get outside a

defender:

• X1 checks to S1

• X1 receives a pass from S1

• X1 passes the ball back to S1 and makes a lateral run

across the area

• S1 delays the return pass to X1 until X1 is able to face

the goal

• S1 hits a diagonal pass just in front of or to the feet of

X1, so that X1 receives the ball facing the goal

• X1 controls and finishes

www.worldclasscoaching.com

© WORLD CLASS COACHING

New York Power - WUSA

Diagram 33

Practices Without Defenders

Attackers making ‘crossover’ runs:

• X1 checks to S1

• X1 receives a pass from S1

• X1 passes the ball back to S1 and makes a lateral

run to clear the space

• S1 passes into the space for X2, who finishes

• X1 spins into X2’s space and follows up for any

rebounds

Diagram 34

Practices Without Defenders

Overlapping run from the supporting midfielder:

• X1 checks to S1

• S1 passes to X1 and makes an overlapping run

outside X1

• X2 supports X1, square of X1 (thus allowing him

to be in a position to play the ball forward when he

receives a pass from X1)

• X1 passes to X2

• X2 passes in front of S1 for S1 to finish

Diagram 35

Practices Without Defenders

Attackers getting outside markers to receive a

pass, either ‘in behind’ defenders or ‘to feet’ facing

forward:

• X1 checks to S1

• S1 passes to X1 and moves forward into a

supporting position to receive a return pass from

X1

• X1 and X2 spin out

• S1 plays a diagonal pass to X2

• X2 finishes

www.worldclasscoaching.com

© WORLD CLASS COACHING

New York Power - WUSA

Diagram 36

Practices With Defenders

Play 3 v 2 going to goal. Attackers try to integrate the

movements practiced earlier in a game-realistic situation

involving defenders.

Key Coaching Points For Attackers

• Selection of best option

• Receiving the ball facing forward or being able to play the next pass forward

• Making runs ‘in behind’ the defense

• Creating 2 v 1 situations