Attacking throws in the final third

This session looks predominantly at the tactical versatility of the long throw in the final third (although also highlights the use of the short throw). The technique behind ‘going long’ is practised with the emphasis on quality, backed up by good movement and a desire from players to attack the ball and score.

It’s important to practise attacking throws, but particularly the long throw, as this provides us with a guaranteed method of gaining free entry into the penalty box.

The long throw – six-yard box

The long throw – penalty spot and beyond

The short throw

Making attacking runs

Positioning

Inswinging and outswinging

When practising attacking throws, we can break the process down into a number of different parts, both physical and psychological:

Psychology

The long throw has given us something that teams are genuinely afraid of. Opposition players are fully aware that they will be on the backfoot, and panic then arises in the penalty box. Any element of panic in the box gives us the opportunity to create goalscoring chances where otherwise they might not arise – through poor communication, a mis-kick, or something else. We need the players to realise that this is a great opportunity to score.

Training plan

On a Friday we’ll devote a lot of time to our set plays. This involves repeating movements and covering the areas where the ball will fall – these are very important parts. However, neither Rory nor any other player will have a bespoke training programme designed to enhance the throwing technique. It is a simple yet effective art, but it’s considered that the tactical arrangement of players is the important element, not the technique itself.

Signals and set plays

We do not use any specific signals for long or short throws. Rather, prior to matches, we will rehearse set plays, each adapted to the defensive habits of the team we are about to face.

For instance, some teams have a brave, powerful goalkeeper with commanding and aggressive centre-backs who relish the chance to hold their line and clear danger. In this instance, we would prefer to throw the ball towards the edge of the box, potentially pushing defenders out of position.

Other teams may be identified as having a nervous keeper or defenders with less presence. Here, the obvious option is to throw the ball deep into the box, maybe even aiming it under the crossbar.

It’s always satisfying when a set play works as it’s fitting reward for all the preparation we put in during the lead-up to matches. It also gives the players the belief that what we’ve been working on in training really does come to fruition.

All set plays should be done as a team or squad, so everybody knows their jobs if called upon for the game.

Trajectory

Rory Delap and others have the ability to change the trajectory of a throw. Similar to the arrangement of set plays, so too will the trajectory of the ball be altered depending on the perceived skills and abilities of opposition keepers and defenders.

Attacking the throw

The player we choose to go up for the throw must have a mindset that we have a great chance of scoring on every occasion. The desire to score and belief that it will happen becomes very important.

Protecting from counter-attacks

Some teams take the decision to bring back all of their tall players into the box in order to give themselves the best chance of defending the long throw, and that can often mean a striker has to come back into the box.

As a side-effect to our attacking throw, this event also means we’re less susceptible to an opposition counter-attack, since one of their key attacking players is back in his own penalty box.