Changing Point of Attack
More and more teams are using pressing tactics in any third of the field. So, improving your team’s ability to quickly change the point of attack is even more important than ever. This is easier said than done. Players must incorporate the technical skills, and in addition to the technical skills, they also need individual, group and team tactical knowledge, combined with the psychological component
Changing the point of attack In order for opponents to increase numbers around the ball, they have to create a strong and a weak side. Changing the point of attack means the ability to quickly play the ball into an area with less opposing players (weak side). The important word here is quickly. The ball should be played to a player who is not positioned immediately around the ball, for example an outside midfielder or an outside fullback who comes from a back position. With a sprint, this player initiates a long pass into the open space. After a slow buildup, the player with the ball must swiftly change the rhythm and the speed of play by quickly changing the point of attack. It is imperative this player has vision (the ability to see the entire field) and makes eye contact with the open player in order to make the pass. The pass needs to be precise and accurately played into the open player’s run. To take advantage of the weak side, this player should then go forward directly toward the goal with his first touch
Technical abilities
First we need to address the technique associated with changing the point of attack. In order to quickly penetrate on the weak side, the player must be able to drive the ball (using the instep, or outside of the foot for rapid delivery) from one side of the field to the other.
First choice: long flighted balls, games without pressure
This way, your team can create a 1 v. 1 situation for the player that initiated the pass to be played to the other side. He also needs to have the ability to dribble with the ball at high speed (tempo dribbling). If the ball is passed through three or four players, it will most likely give the opposing team enough time to move the defense and to adjust accordingly.
Second choice: quick short-passing game, by bi-passing certain positions .
Precise passing skills for medium- to long range passes on the ground, as well as in the air, are a must
Psychological considerations
As mentioned earlier, a good strong foot is not enough to be able to change the point of attack. Another key factoris vision, to have “eyes in the back of your head“. Players need to know where their opponent is positioned and where their own players are on the field, preferably at all times. Think of how often we see youth players, especially U16 and below, play the ball to one side of the field, pass it back, and even though no one moved or tried to change the existing picture, they pass the ball right back into that original position, and eventually lose it. But this is not limited to the younger age groups, where it is to be expected because players don’t have the necessary tactical knowledge or sometimes the skill or power to play the right ball. At times we can also see it at the professional level as well. So this tells us how difficult it is sometimes to see the entire field, especially when players are under pressure.
Tactics
Another important factor is team shape. If your team does not spread the field very well
when it is in possession, then it will be very difficult to change the point of attack because no one will be open on the weak side. From a psychological standpoint, it also takes a lot of discipline to stay wide. This is true especially if players don’t see the ball for 10 minutes even though they are doing the right thing by staying wide. Again, younger players especially have the tendency to move into the center too early, primarily because they want to be where the immediate action is. So be patient with your players, because changing the point of attack is not an easy affair. Players should also avoid dangerous square passes that can lead to counterattack situations for the opponent
Technique
Ability to play medium- to long-range passes on the ground or in the air with the instep (driven) and with the outside of the foot receiver’s first touch (sometimes chest) is vital; should play ball forward if possible tempo dribbling to beat opponents in 1 v. 1 situations.
Vision (the ability to see the entire field) team shape when in possession to spread the opposing team in all directions at the beginning of his run, the open player might have to shake off an opponent with a body fake and a sudden change of direction after the ball has been switched, quickly penetrate and take players on in 1 v. 1 situations coordinate runs by forwards and attacking players to unbalance opposing defense