Select Team Offense: The 23 Set

1. Select Team Offense: The 23 Set

2. The 23 Set: Level of Play • Level of Play The “23” set is our most advanced and demanding set as it requires players to make a variety of instinctive and reactive reads. This set is suitable only for the most advanced age and skill levels.

3. The 23 Set: Set Up • Set-up Like our “22”, this offense starts in the 2-2-2 formation, but “flexes” or moves into a 2-1-3 umbrella set. In the initial 2-2-2 formation there will be two players up-top in front of the goal, two players on the crease, and two players behind the goal. Typically the players up-top are midfielders and the players behind the goal are attackmen. The players on the crease are, therefore, one attackman and one midfielder…

4. The 23 Set: Set Up • Set Up (Continued) As they do in the “22” set A1 and A2 start approximately 5-7 yards behind the goal and 5-7 yards to the left and right of the goal respectively. M1 and M2 start at the top of the restraining box and 5-7 yards to the left and right respectively. M3 and A3 start on the crease approximately 5-7 yards in front of the goal in line with the light and right goal posts.

5. A1 A2 A3 M3 M1 M2 The 22 Set (M1 Dodging)

6. The 22 Set: Execution • Execution (If M1 Alley Dodges) This offense starts with either M1 or M2 dodging (we will assume M1 is the dodger in this instance). On the alley dodge, M3 will “pop” out the backside. M2 will follow. A1 will make himself available as an outlet and A2 will pinch the backside for a potential skip, then he will move to “X” for a re-dodge.

7. A1 A2 A3 M3 M1 M2 The 23 Set (M1 Dodging)

8. After the initial dodge, if M1 doesn’t have a shot, he wants to look to the crease, or ahead to A1 or he wants to “rollback” and throw the ball to M2. The 23 Set (M1 Dodging)

9. The 22 Set: Execution • If M1 Throws To A1 If M1 throws to A1, then A3 wants to cut down for the ball. A1 should look to A3 on the crease or to M2 on the skip. If neither of these are open, A1 wants to throw to A2 on at “X” for the re-dodge.

10. On the re-dodge, A2 wants to push the backside. M3, who has rolled off the crease on the initial dodge, wants to roll back up field, M2, wants to roll to the backside for a skip lane and A3 wants to cut on the crease. When he receives the pass from M1, A1 will look to the crease for A3; he will look to skip to M2; or he will move the ball to the backside. After pushing the backside, A2 wants to look for his shot. Otherwise, he can look to M3 ahead, M2 on the skip or A3 on the crease. The 23 Set (M1 Throwing to A1)

11. The 23 Set: Execution • If M1 Throws Back To M2 If M1 throws back to M2 (who is following the play), then M2 wants to step in and draw a defender, then move the ball immediately to the backside to M3 (the “pop-off” guy) who will look to shoot and or re-dodge. On this action, A1 will show to the ball, then move back toward “X” on the rollback. A2 pinches the crease on the initial dodge, then fades to the end-line to create dodging room for M3.

12. On the re-direct, M3 will first look to shoot, then he will look inside at A3, or to re-dodge. His outlet will be A2 at “X”. The 23 Set (M1 Throw Back to M2)

13. The 23 Set: Execution • If M1 Sweeps If M1 decides to sweep to his right, M2 can either cut through, or set an on-ball screen for M1. If he cuts through he wants to look to replace up top. On this action, M3 will still look to “pop” out the backside. A3 will float in the crease looking for a feeding lane. A2 will now curl for the outlet, and A1 will pinch the backside and then move to “X” to provide an re-dodging opportunity.

14. A1 A2 A3 M3 M1 M2 The 23 Set (If M1 Sweeps)

15. After the sweep, M1 wants to look to the crease, or ahead to the A2. The throwback off the sweep is difficult, but it is available, if M2 cuts through and replaces. The 23 Set (If M1 Sweeps)

16. The 23 Set: Execution Attack Dodging • Execution (Attack Dodging) The 23 can be initiated by M1 or M2, but it can also be initiated by A1 or A2. In this scenario the attackmen want to either dodge a side, or use a “two-man” game to get themselves free. In both attack dodging scenarios, the off-ball midfield movement involves a ball-side attack or midfield “pop”, using the other player as a pick. The hope is to occupy the first and second sliders with movement…

17. The 23 Set: Execution Attack Dodging • Execution (Attack Continued) It’s imperative that this “pop” be high enough that the dodging attackman has sufficient space to operate. The other midfielders respond accordingly. The adjacent midfielder rolls to the middle looking for a skip lane. And the far midfielder moves down the backside looking for a skip lane.

18. A1 A2 M3 A3 M1 M2 The 23 Set (A1 Dodging)

19. On the dodge A1, has a variety of options. If the shot is not available, he can look to the “pop-off” guy, he can look to the crease, or he can check his skip lanes: up-top and on the backside. If none of these options is available, he should roll back and hit A2 at “X”. The 23 Set (A1 Dodging)

20. The 23 Set: Execution Attack Dodging • If A1 Throws To M1 If A1 throws to M1, M1 wants to step in for a shot, then look to the crease. The other midfielders want to stay spread and prepared to “swing” the ball to the backside for a re-dodge.

21. On the re-direct, the “pop-guy” should immediately look to shoot. Otherwise, he can feed the crease, the backside (A1), the nearside sneaker (A2) or he can re-dodge himself. The 23 Set (A1 Dodging Throws to M1)

22. The 22 Set: Execution • If A1 Throws To A2 If A1 throws back to A2, then A2 should push the backside looking to feed A3 and M3 on the crease. If neither A3 or M3 is open, A2 should push for his shot and then use M2 as his outlet.

23. On the re-dodge, A2 wants to look to push the corner. If he doesn’t get his shot, he should look to the crease and at his skip lanes (M2 and M3). Otherwise, he wants to roll- back and re-set. Or push the ball ahead and re-set. The 23 Set (A1 Dodging Throws Back to A2)

24. The 23 Set: Execution “23 Purple” • Special Play (23 Purple) “23 Purple” is an away from ball pick during the backside (A2) re-dodge. This play can be used in special instances, or on every re-dodge, depending on what the coach wants. This play is not only an excellent goal scoring opportunity, it naturally “re-balances” the original 2-2-2 set so that the “23” can be run again seamlessly.

25. The 23 Set (“23 Purple” Starting from the M1-A1-A2 Re-dodge Opportunity )

26. The 23 Set (“23 Purple” M1-A1-A2-M1)

27. The 23 Set: Execution Attack Dodging • Execution (Attack “Two-Man”) If A1 and A2 decide they want to use one each other in a “two-man” game, they should. Whether this is a standard (attack-attack) or a “classic” (attack-midfield) two man game, it should be run the same way as the regular attack initiated “23”, with the exception that the initial dodge will involve and on-ball screen. The midfielders should respond according to the location and nature of the attack dodge.

28. A1 A2 M3 A3 M1 M2 The 23 Set (A1-A2 Two-man)

29. If A1 doesn’t have a shot off the initial dodge, he can look to the “pop-off” man ahead of him, or he can look to the crease, or at his skip lanes. If none of these is available, he should roll back and move the ball to “X”. The 23 Set (A1-A2 Two-man)

30. The 22 Set: Execution Attack Dodging • Execution (Attack Option 2) Another “adjustment” or “wrinkle” that can be used with the attack initiated “23” is the backside “pop”. In this instance, the midfielder or attackman who has been designated as the “pop guy” on the crease, will go out the backside rather than the front. This is a useful alternative look if the defense has keyed on the offensive motion. This adjustment can be used on either the regular attack dodge, or on the two-man game.

31. A1 A2 M3 A3 M1 M2 The 23 Set (A1 Dodging With Backside Pop)

32. On the backside “pop” option, the looks are a little bit different, but A1 wants to look to the crease or ahead to the front side midfielders (M1 and M2). This is also a great way to set up a backside “re-dodge” On the re-direct, the “pop-guy” wants to immediately look to shoot. Otherwise, he can look to the crease, to A2 showing from “X” or he can re-dodge himself. The 23 Set (A1 Dodging With Backside Pop)

33. The 23 Set: Final Thoughts • The 23 Set: Final Thoughts The “23 Set” is a very complex set that requires players be able to react instinctively to what the defense presents them. Because this offense starts in the “22” set it is an excellent complimentary offense for teams that choose to run the “22” set on a normal basis. The “23” therefore provides an excellent change of pace or adjusted look if teams are defending the “22” effectively…

34. The 23 Set: Final Thoughts • The 23 Set: Final Thoughts Cont. The “23 Set” is very flexible. Coaches can decide to use and attackman or a midfielder as their “pop-guy”. These decisions should be based on who the best shooters/decision makers are. If you have a good time and room shooter, it would be wise to use him as the “pop-guy” as teams tend to lose track of this man, because he’s not in an immediately dangers position. On the re-direct, he will be in a prime attacking spot.