advancedgame play15-20 minutes12-20 players

Wave Attack Game

Dynamic attacking drill where waves of attackers attempt to score against recovering defenders. Develops quick attacking play, decision-making, and defensive recovery under pressure.

U13-U14U15+

Setup

Use half a pitch with a full-size goal and goalkeeper. Position attackers at halfway line in groups of 3-4. Position defenders near the penalty area. On the coach's call, a wave of attackers (e.g., 4v3) attacks towards goal. Defenders must recover and defend. After the attack ends (goal or ball cleared), the next wave attacks immediately. Rotate roles after set time or number of attacks.

Coaching Points

1Attack with speed and directness whilst defenders recover
2Make quick decisions, do not delay in good positions
3Exploit numerical advantages when they exist
4Finish clinically, do not waste opportunities
5Defenders recover at maximum speed and organise quickly
6Communicate during transitions and attacking build-up

Variations

✓Vary numbers (3v2, 4v3, 5v4) to create different scenarios
✓Add time limits for attackers to score
✓Include transition where defenders counter-attack if they win ball
✓Progress to continuous waves with minimal recovery time
✓Create competition between attacking and defending units

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a wave attack drill?

A wave attack drill involves successive waves of attackers attempting to score against recovering defenders, often with numerical advantage. It develops quick attacking play, decision-making under pressure, and defensive recovery at high intensity.

Why use wave attack drills?

Wave attacks develop attacking efficiency against recovering defences, exploiting numerical advantages, and clinical finishing under pressure. They also train defenders to recover quickly and organise under pressure, replicating realistic match scenarios.

What makes wave attacks effective training?

Wave attacks combine technical execution, tactical decision-making, and physical demands (recovery runs, sprints) in realistic match scenarios. High repetition of attacking situations with varied outcomes develops adaptability and quick thinking.

How do I organise wave attack drills?

Create clear attacker and defender groups, establish the numerical advantage (e.g., 4v3), set starting positions, and run continuous waves with brief rest between. Focus on speed of attack and defensive recovery quality rather than number of waves.

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Expert Advisors

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Related Keywords

wave attackattacking drilloverloadquick attackrecovery runsgame-based trainingfootball trainingcoaching drillsattacking patternsdefensive recoverynumerical advantagefinishing

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