Team Offense: The 21 Set
The 21 Set: Level of Play
•Level of Play
The “21” set can be used by all age and skill
levels. However, this presentation and
execution shown here is demanding as it
requires players to make a variety of
instinctive and reactive reads. This set as
shown is suitable only for the most advanced
age and skill levels.
The 21 Set: Set Up
•Set-up
This offense starts in the 2-1-3 formation. Two
Attackmen below GLE behind the goal and on
opposite sides, one Attackman in the crease
and three midfielders (one on top middle and
one on each side). Triangle movement
concepts are used with this set.
The 21 Set: Set Up
•Set Up (Continued)
A1 and A2 start approximately 5-7 yards behind GLE and 5-7
yards to the left and right of the goal circle respectively. M2
and M3 start 5-7 yards below the top of the restraining line
no wider than 15 yards from the midline to the left and right
respectively. M3 starts in the middle 5 yards above the
restraining line. A3 starts on the crease in front of the goal in
line even with the leftside or rightside goal posts either high
(10-12 yards) or low (2-5 yards) depending on the location of
the ball.
A1
A2
A3
M2
M3
M1
The 21 Set (M1 Dodging)
The 21 Set: Execution
•Execution (If M1 Alley Dodges)
The offense can start with any midfielder or
either attackmen behind the GLE . M1 is the
dodger in this instance with A3 low and away.
On the alley dodge, M2 will cut through the
crease out the backside. M3 will follow M1 .
A3 will “pop” off screen as M1 cuts through.
A1 will make himself available as an outlet
and A2 will pinch the backside for a potential
skip and move to “X’ if A1 gets the outlet
pass.
A1
A2
A3
M3
M2
M1
The 21 Set (M1 Dodging)
A1
A2
After the initial dodge, if
M1 doesn’t have a shot,
he wants to look to the
crease, skip backside,
look ahead to A1 or
“rollback” and throw the
ball to M3.
M1
M2
A3
M3
The 21 Set (M1 Dodging)
The 21 Set (M1 Dodging)
The 21 Set: Execution
• If M1 Throws To A1
If M1 throws to A1, then M1 will cut to the crease
looking for a “Give and Go” . If he does not get the
pass, he will set a pick for A3. A3 will come off pick and
look for pass. Midfielders rotate as M3 replaces M1
looking for outlet pass, M2 replaces M3 looking for skip
pass and M1 continues and replaces M2. If A3 does not
get the pass , he will go backside and pick at GLE for
A2. A2 will cut to the crease. If A2 is not open A1 will
throw to A3 at “X” for the re-dodge. It is important that
A1 try to score by dodging and getting hands free to set
up passes.
The 21 Set (A1 Dodging)
A3
A1
On the re-dodge, A3 wants to
push the backside. After
pushing the backside A3 looks
for a shot. Otherwise, he can
look to M1 ahead, M2 on a skip
or A2 in the crease
A2
M3
M1
M2
The 21 Set (A3 Dodging)
The 21 Set: Execution
• If M1 Throws Back To M3
If M1 throws back to M3 (who is following the
play), then M3 wants to step in and draw a
defender, then move the ball immediately to
the backside to M2 (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.
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 21 Set (M1 Throw Back to M2)
The 21 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 follow
the play look to the top. 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.
A1
A2
A3
M3
M2
M1
The 21 Set (If M1 Sweeps)
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 as
M3 replaces.
The 21 Set (If M1 Sweeps)
The 21 Set: Execution Attack Dodging
•Execution (Attack Dodging)
The 21 can be initiated by M1, M2 or M3 but
it can also be initiated by A1 or A2. In this
scenario the attackmen want to dodge from
either side or use a “two-man” game to get
themselves free. In both attack dodging
scenarios, the midfielder movement involves
a ball-side midfielder cut to a pick in the
crease for the attackman to run off from and
the off-ball midfielders rotating with the
cutter to replace down and top.
The 21 Set: Execution Attack Dodging
•Execution (Attack Continued)
It’s imperative that the attackman set up high
so that the dodging attackman has sufficient
space to operate. The other midfielders
respond accordingly. The top midfielder
rotates down to the cutting midfielders
original spot looking for an outlet pass. And
the far midfielder moves to the top looking
for a skip pass.
A1
A2
M2
M3
A3
M1
The 21 Set (A1 Dodging)
On the dodge A1, has a variety
of options. If the shot is not
available, he can look to the
crease, he can skip up-top or
pass ahead. If none of these
options are available, he should
roll back and hit A2 at “X”.
The 21 Set (A1 Dodging)
The 21 Set: Execution Attack Dodging
• If A1 Throws Ahead 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, prepared to
“swing” the ball to the backside for a re-
dodge.
On the re-direct, he should
immediately look to shoot.
Otherwise, he can feed the
crease, the backside (A1),
the nearside (A2) or he can
re-dodge himself.
The 21 Set (A1 Dodging Throws to M1)
The 21 Set: Execution
• If A1 Throws To A2
If A1 throws back to A2, then A2 should push
the backside looking to feed A3 on the crease.
If A3 is not open, A2 should push for his shot
and then use M3 as his outlet.
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 rollback and re-set. Or push the
ball ahead and re-set.
The 21 Set (A1 Dodging Throws Back to A2)
The 21 Set: Execution “21 Black”
• Special Play (21 Black)
“21 Black” is an away from ball pick during
the backside (A2) re-dodge. This play can be
used in special instances, or on every redodge, depending on what the coach wants.
This play is not only an excellent goal scoring
opportunity, it naturally “re-balances” the
original 2-1-3 set so that the “21” can be run
again seamlessly.
The 21 Set (“21 Black” Starting from the M1A1-A2 Re-dodge Opportunity )
The 21 Set (“21 Black” M1-A1-A2-M1)
The 21 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 “21”, 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.
A1
A2
M3
A3
M2
M1
The 21 Set (A1-A2 Two-man)
If A1 doesn’t have a shot off the
initial dodge, he can look to the
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 21 Set (A1-A2 Two-man)
On the re-direct, he
wants to immediately
look to shoot.
Otherwise, he can
look to the crease,
backside to A1, to A2
showing from “X” or
he can re-dodge
himself.
A1 wants to look to the
crease or ahead to the
front side midfielder
(M1) or skip to M2. This
is also a great way to set
up a backside “redodge”
The 21 Set (A1 Dodging Options)
The 21 Set: Final Thoughts
• The 21 Set: Final Thoughts
The “21 Set” is very flexible. It can be used at
lower levels by simply dodging and triangle
rotating or as complex set that requires
players be able to react instinctively to what
the defense presents them. The “21”
therefore provides an excellent change from
“13” or “14” if teams are defending those
effectively.
“Classic” Attack/Midfield Invert
Classic: Level of Play
•Level of Play
“Classic” is suited for teams at all skill levels.
The movements are simple and should be
easy for players of any age group to learn and
understand.
Classic: Set Up
•Setup
This is a 2-1-3 offense that initiates a
midfielder and an attackman behind the goal
with the remaining four players cutting in
front of the goal to put pressure on the
defense, create space for the dodge, and
provide and outlet for the ball carrier. The two
players behind the goal are an attackmen and
a midfielder. This is why we call it a “classic”
set. Short and long are behind the cage to
force match up changes.
Classic: Set Up
•Set-up (Continued)
The remaining four players want to position
themselves in a diamond with X1 on the high
crease approximately 7 yards above the goal
in the middle of the field. X2 and X4 want to
position themselves 10 yards above the goal
and 5-7 yards to the right and left of X1. X3
wants to ling up about 13-15 yards above the
goal in the middle of the field.
A1
M
1
X2
X4
X1
X3
Classic (M1 Behind with A1)
Classic: Execution
•Execution
This offense starts with either a 1v1 dodge
from M1 or A1, or with a two-man game
between M1 and A1 (In this case M1 is going
to be the dodger). If the dodger (M1) draws a
slide, then X1 wants to cut behind his
defender, which is known as “following the
slide”. X2, X3, and X4 will perform a triangle
rotation. X2 cuts through to the weak-side
making sure to look for the ball in the event
that his man slides.
Classic: Execution
•Execution (Continued)
X3 rolls over to the ball-side to provide an
outlet for the ball carrier (M1). X4 drifts to the
middle of the field to find a skip lane for M1.
A1 needs to follow M1 on the drive to provide
an outlet and back up the goal if a shot
occurs. If the initial dodge does not work,
then X2 wants to throw the ball to either X3
or A1 who will attack the backside.
Classic (M1 Dodges from “X”)
M1 is going to attack the goal on
the dodge, or off a two-man
game. If he does not have a shot
he wants to look at the crease
for X1, or he wants to look
ahead to X3 on the rollover, or
he wants to rollback and throw
the ball to A1 at “X”.
Classic (M1 Dodges from “X”)
Classic: Execution
•Execution (If M1 Throws to X3)
If M1 dodges and moves the ball ahead to X3
rolling over the top, X3 should look to the
crease and then move the ball to the back
side for X2 on the re-dodge.
When X2 receives the
pass after the cut
through, he wants to
immediately re-dodge,
because the defense
will be focused on the
ball-side.
When X3 receives the
pass from M1 he wants
to look at X2 and X1 on
the crease, otherwise, he
wants to move the ball
immediately to X4 for the
re-dodge on the
backside.
Classic (M1 Dodges from “X”)
Classic: Execution
• If M1 Throws Back To A1
If M1 throws back to A1, then A1 wants to
attack the weak-side by dodging for a shot
and looking to feed X2, X3 or X1.
Classic (M1 Dodges from “X”)
If A1 gets nothing on the
re-dodge, he wants to
look to the crease for
X1, or he wants to skip
to X4, or he wants to
look directly ahead of
him to X2.
Classic (M1 Dodges from “X”)
Classic: Final Thoughts
• Classic: Final Thoughts
“Classic” can be run with a dodge to either
side (all movements will be mirrored and
reversed). “Classic” can also take advantage
of a two-man game behind. We’re looking to
get defensemen to switch off attackmen. At
the higher levels, this offense can be run with
players in any spot similar to the way “21”
might be run with an attackmen instead of a
midfielder.