Attacking Back Play

Attacking back play utilising individual strengths

When putting your backline together there are two criteria which you could consider.

1-    Every player must be an attacking threat in some way.
2-    Every player must understand how his play both with and without the ball can help make the unit an effective strike force.

Being an Attacking Threat

1-    Carrying the ball.  
Based on size, speed, agility and power each player will have a particular strength or two. These need to be practiced and a plan devised as to how they fit in to the back attack patterns.
Depending on each player’s particular strengths and skills could well determine where a player then fits in to the plan.
The question that needs to be answered is what can this player do to be a threat when he is carrying the ball?

If he is big, strong but not overly quick off the mark he will demonstrate a different method of attacking than a player who may also be big and strong but with quicker acceleration and more power.
Where and when they receive the ball will differ if they are to be effective. How they physically force the penetration line will differ.
The slower of the two may need to receive the ball a trifle earlier to gain some momentum and allow him to step in to the contact in an aggressive manner whilst using a fend, whereas the more powerful player will hit top pace much sooner and threaten with a quick change of direction and pace when forcing the penetration line.

When you consider that your backline will have seven different individuals with differing combinations of attacking strengths each player must know what his plan of attack is going to be based on what he is good at. From there he will be able to work out where and when is the best situation for him to receive the ball.
As an example a small but quick winger who has an electric acceleration may find that his best attack comes from tracking behind the line in back attack and phase play and accelerating on to an inside ball that he calls for when he recognizes that the inside defence is not moving up.

By providing guidelines in a series of questions to be answered your backs will be able to develop their own strengths and devise ways in which they are most effective for the team. To make life easier you could then devise an attack pattern based around an individual’s skills. At the moment most plays are manufactured around an idea that the players then have to fit in to.

2-Passing the Ball
Passing the ball is more often than not designed to create situations that provide the attackers with more space in which to run and attack and to help with the continuity and flow of the game. The confidence to pass the ball is paramount in creating attacking opportunities. If there is one skill in the game that needs to be constantly rehearsed and improved then concentrate on this.

Passing should be so much more than a basic lateral pass. A short reverse pass executed at the correct time can completely change the direction of your attack. A pop pass in a tackle will ensure continuity and flow in your game. A really long pass can establish a front running player a long way from where most defenders are situated.

Some players will be able to pass better than others. Some players will have the ability to do a reverse pass. Find out who these players are. How can their particular passing skill be utilized in your attack?  What and where is the best situation to set up an attack based on a pass that carries something different about it? Set the question to your players.

In the meantime practice passing and running under pressure within your patterns. The better your team becomes at this the more able they will be in operating under pressure during a game. Devise one play based on a ‘different type of pass’.


Threatening without the Ball.
As each of your attackers practices his special attack skills he should outline what he needs to happen inside and outside him to provide the best opportunity for success. Obviously the best chance of success occurs the fewer the number of defenders in his channel if he is the potential penetrator.

Does he want the inside passer/s to be flat and pass it back to him? Does he require a tracking runner who can pop up inside or outside? How will this player know what to do?  Does he want the ball early or as he accelerates and changes direction?  Based on this where and who does he want the pass to come from? What are required from the players outside / closest to him as he receives the ball?

There should be a conglomeration of enthusiasm, excitement and activity every time there is an attack opportunity. In due time each player will be able to ‘read’ what is likely to happen and will act accordingly.

The big question for the coach to pose as they practice together is, ‘who is holding this defender in the line so that he is not able to change his focus on to the penetrator?’  This will ensure that everyone keeps working even after they have passed the ball or before they receive it.


Back play needs to change its shape from solely a lateral passing and running game to a combination of differing depths and widths and changes of pace, angle and passing, based around an individuals’ particular talents and all players continually carrying out roles that threaten with and without the ball.

Once all this occurs the team needs to decide on the best action of attack as far as continuity skills are concerned. The plan is to score so how are you going to go about it!