Aim

To initiate the go forward i.e. get across the gain line, so that forward momentum can be maintained.

Outcome Goal

To use opposition to reduce time and space so that better decisions can be made in the time available to create, recognise and use space. The space may be lateral space across the field, linear space down the field or a combination of them both.

Performance Goals

Accuracy in doing the simple things well under pressure.
Reacting to the positioning of the opposition.

Are the numbers in the line equal to, greater than or less than ours?

Are they spread across the field or are they bunched?

Are they flat and close to us, flat and back a bit?

Are they aligned or are there dogleg gaps in it?

What are the cues that enable us to recognise where opportunities lie? What are the controllables and how can we use them to overcome the things we have less control over i.e. the opposition.

Controllables/ Checklists

Key Factors of Attack

1. Stand sufficiently far apart to isolate each defender.

2. Align to give sufficient time to pass the ball along the back-line.

3. Retain the alignment as the back-line moves forward.

4. Draw an opposition defender before passing.

5. Pass in front of the next back in the line so that the ball is easy to catch and peripheral vision is retained.

6. Create a gap just before the tackle line for the extra player to run through the initial line of defence.

7. Enter the gap to ensure the defence has insufficient time to tackle the extra player.

8. Use the disorganisation in the defence to pass to an unmarked player.

9. Accelerate through the gap.

10. Use support players to continue the attack.

Functional Roles in backline Attack

1. Distributor

2. The Playmaker

3. Decoy

4. Penetrator

5. Support Players

Queries You Need to Resolve in Your Own Mind

Is it the role of the backs to keep the forwards going forward?
Is a flat back-line more likely to cause drift than a back-line entering play from depth?
Does the time depth gives an attacking line encourage drift or does it give time to create composure and pressure on the defence so that success is more likely?
Is this all a function of the ingrained skills of the players you have got? How changeable are they? Up to what age can they be changed? If you want change how do you overcome insecurity that results from playing outside the comfort zone?

Defensive Cues

Numbers: is the attack greater than the defence or vice versa?
Where are they and where is the available space?
Where are the miss-matches that are in our favour?
Do we need every member of the line to handle the ball or just a few?

Practicing Attack

Practicing without opposition is only practicing the technique of passing and not the skill of attack.
The opposition need not be contact, all it need do is restrict the time and space to run catch and pass so that it is as close as possible to that in a game.
Drill the players by completing passing the ball along the line before breaking the line from which #9 made the original pass and then reverse the attack back the other way.
The coach stands aligned to any of the players and that player must be given enough time and space to pass the ball before making contact. Vary the player and the depth.
Identify what can be varied should the space be reduced:

Greater depth and/or

Slower feet and/or

Faster hands and

A pull-back pass to re-create space.

The pass to the penetrator must be made with sufficient time to get the pass away but with insufficient time for the defender to drift onto the penetrator i.e. just before the tackle line but remember that this point varies based on the relative depths of the attack and the defence as simulated by the positioning of the coach.

Progression

Vary the depth of the defender.
Add in more defenders to:

Spread the defence isolating each defender.

Create dog-leg gaps in the defence.

Start with the players lying down on the 5 metre line. On the call they align from 5 metre line to 5 metre line in sufficient depth to run onto their pass and put the ball through the line before the tackle line is reached. Get width first to spread the defence before worrying about receiving the ball. Go wide first and come in to catch the ball rather than stand too close and drift.
Add a pressure point where the defence may be able to stop the attack and have the players read the signs and avoid the situation. Probably it is better to hold the line or run forward more slowly to create enough time and space to react, so that the defence doesn’t take the man and the ball.
React to the numbers in defence being greater than those in attack by exhausting a channel at a miss match.
Blow the whistle to indicate a tackle/post tackle/ ruck/maul and have the attacking line re-align.
In re-aligning overload another attacking pressure point.
Vary the defence so that the players play what is in front of them.

Drill the attacking line so that they are making many more decisions than they would make in a game under pressure increasing their