3 teams of 4-6 players in an area 25 long x 15 wide, split into 3 sections. Each of the 3 teams must start in a different playing area, with 1 team keeping possession in one end zone. 2 players press from middle area to win possession and transfer the ball to the opposite end.
Once they win possession, they drop out of central zone and the team who loses possession moves into the central area, with 2 players pressing; this is a quick rotation.
Attacking Emphasis35%35%
Defending Emphasis65%65%
Age Group
Number of Players
Minutes
Progression & Constraint 1 | Player Drop To Receive
Opposite end player can drop in to link play to play through, must not stay in area more than 5 seconds – Rotate.
Progression & Constraints 2 | 50 Pass, 4 Ball Transfer
Players keep count of passes and must make 4 passes to transfer the ball to opposite end.
Progression & Constraints 3 | Bounce To Play
Middle players must drop and set possession player to switch and transfer to opposite end.
Key Coaching Points
Quick Passing | Spacial Awareness | Speed of Press | Body Shape | Angles
Player Focus Great practice to start sessions off after warm up, as elements of competition and quick passing and transfer of the ball, encourages player to work at a high tempo. Compact area encourages players to play quickly and challenges individuals in possession to move the ball quickly under pressure.
Not much time available here. Get players to focus on giving themselves more time through being ready before transfer; organised. Balls must be prepared at the coaches feet or stationed around the practice, as there will be a lot of transfer of possession.
Be creative with numbers, decide what you want out of the session, easier defending or attacking and work to those ends. e.g. 4 v 2, 5 v 3, 6 v 4 etc
Practice 3 of our counter attacking theme has a 2 v 2 with a floater in a 15 by 15 square in each corner of the practice. When possession is won, one of two players must play the ball into an awaiting striker with one player able to support, creating a 2 v 1 to finish. The practice must work in both directions throughout.
Attacking Emphasis75%75%
Defending Emphasis25%25%
Age Group
Number of Players
Minutes
Key Coaching Points: 2 v 1 Counter Attack on Break
If defender wins possession they must attempt to play the ball into the square to restart the practice and gain a point.
Depending on player numbers you may be able to allow for recovery rotating players in and out.
Key Coaching Points: Maintaining Soccer Practice Speed
We can progress this by allowing two players to support the striker, with a defender now active on their first touch, 1 recovering defender will create a 3 v 2 situation. Ensure we rotate attackers and defenders throughout the practice.
Key Coaching Points
– Speed of counter – Angles of support – Combination to finish with overload
Q&A
How do the opposition defend against this and what problems does this cause?
How can central players combine in one touch effectively, what support can you provide in your teams for this player?
Between a 20 and 30 yard area depending on age group coached, we play a 3 v 3 plus targets changing to a 4 v 4 with a goal and GK at each end. Players must combine with a central target player to score with quick combination. Area has two central 5 yard zones where target players must play 1 or 2 touch combinations with the attacking team.
Focus efforts on playing through either of the 2 central floaters. Defenders will be protecting target players, so players may need to play around the opposition to create better angles to combine.
Progression 2
Progress the practice by allowing rotation between central target players, with a single player in each box for each team.
Progression 3
Central players can now rotate with a teammate after their pass. This will focus players and motivate targets to join in attacks, by checking for advanced teammates to connect with. Focus attention on playing on the half turn to ensure they play quickly. You may even stipulate a 2 touch rule to focus them on having to assess teammates’ position.
Progression 4
Central players can drive out of the square to initiate attacks quicker on their first touch. Now central players will be focusing on the space they can drive into, rather than teammates to connect with. This is fine, as they become more positive with the ball and identify available space to penetrate with their first touch.
Key Coaching Points
Try to allow free play and recognise opportunities for possession team to combine quickly with forward passes. If opposition start to protect target players, may need to enforce passing conditions (e.g. 10 passes a goal) to force pressure. Be creative and think about other progressions that could be implemented using STEP model, or ask players to create their own.
Q&A
– How well do you connect with central players and why? – Where are you facing difficulties and how can you overcome this? – How does each progression change your attitude to the game? – What problems have you had to solve?
This soccer training session is focused on improving support play between players. We position 5 sets of 2 poles with a 3 yard gap between each on a pitch 40 by 40. Objective is for team in possession to combine with a teammate with a pass through a gate, focusing on speed of support, reactions to opposition screening and use of the switch to break defender’s pressure.
In this 5 v 5, the team wins a game if they can score through 2 poles in 3 touches, or if they keep possession so long that they get down to a single player as the last player standing.
The possession team will lose a player every time they play a succesful combination through the poles, balancing challenge after each goal scored.
Key Point 2: Use Full Space For Switch Of Play
It’s vital that players use this whole space to draw defenders away from possession and from protecting gates. This will provide an option for the passing team to switch play when they are under concerted pressure, but timing to switch is crucial. The team must have 1 player to support this switch of play allowing the pass to be played through the gate and not isolate individual teammates.
Game Challenge: Player Drops Out After Goal
On scoring, the possession team will have a player drop out of the practice. This will create an overload for the defending team increasing the challenge for the team performing well. Have an individual activity for players who drop out and manage this as a coach effectively.
Game Success: Last Player Standing
To win the game without the quick 3 pass connection through 2 gates, the team must end with a single player. As less and less players are in the practice, you can close off half or a quarter of the pitch to ensure the overloaded defender has a better chance of winning the ball.
Key Coaching Points
Tactical | Transition (Dispersal v Immediate Support)
Technical | Angles and distances of support
Psychological | Recognition of switch to make quick passing opposite side
Q&A
– How are your players using the space effectively?
– Do you need to make the pitch smaller as the play progresses?
– What are players doing that you do not want them to do and how would you address this as a coach?
In this Opposed 4 v 2 practice, possession team must keep the ball in each of the 4 parts within this 20 x 20 area, against 2 defending players who can press to regain in any area.
If defenders win the ball, they can now play a 2 v 1 in a single 10 x 10 area to make 5 passes, before moving into another square to do the same. When attacking team win the ball back, they keep possession the initial 4 v 2 again.
Players must make full use of this 20 by 20 yard area, keeping the ball moving in each area to keep possession. Dispersal to create space making it difficult to for defenders to win the ball is crucial and gives possession players more time and space to play around defenders.
Progression 1: Must Split Defenders
When they get they opportunity they must look to split the 2 defenders to score a point as shown. To achieve this, they must look to move defenders apart by keeping the ball on the outside and forcing that pressure.
Progression 2: 2 Defenders Go 2 v 1 On Regain
If the 2 whites win the ball, they must make 10 passes in this single area to score a point against a single defender. They must quickly move into a single 10 by 10 yard area and complete these passes under pressure using this smaller space to keep the ball moving.
Progression 3 – Extra Defender Joins After 10 Passes
After 10 passes another defender can press in this small zone to regain quickly creating a 2 v 2, ensuring players are checking shoulders for any pressure that might arrive behind them. As well as checking shoulders, players will increase their level of communication with extra pressure triggered by 10 succesful passes.
Key Coaching Points: Split Defenders to Break
If players can split the 2 defenders quickly, they can then move into the empty square unopposed, awaiting one of the two remaining defenders to press to regain, repeating the process. How long can the pair keep possession? Set challenges for paired players with 3 teams of 2.
Key Coaching Points
– Short, sharp and concise passing – Understanding between players of each other’s movement to keep possesson – Supporting angles to create space and time to keep the ball
Q&A
How can you draw players in to create space? What is the best passing angle you can provide for your teammate? How quickly can you win possession to force the possession team to move the ball at pace?
