Attacking With Varied Numbers
Practice Organisation
• 2 teams playing on 2 pitches with 4 goals
• Players start 3v3 and then (individually) move on to the opposite pitch
when they score a goal
• The numbers of each team on each pitch thus changes over time
• Get players to mark each goal on white board, to give opposition a short
window of overload after conceding
Adaptation & Progression
• Players have freedom to move between the pitches whenever they
deem it a good idea instead of just when a goal is scored, or when a shot
is taken.
Key Coaching Points
• Individual: how can you use a spare team mate as a decoy?
• Plan in your groups, how are you going to create movement between
pitches to maximise the likelihood of creating chances
• What might trigger a change of box? What influences your decision to
go direct and when to remain patient?
• What type of movement can maximise the numbers?
(Could be overlaps, underlaps, backing up to keep possession etc.)
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Dribbling & Running With The Ball
Practice Organisation
• 5 players, 4 have a ball.
• Start position: Players with ball on outside of square, evenly-spaced.
• Players attempt to dribble across the square or to an adjacent side, avoiding being tagged by
player in middle.
• Getting across gains 2 points, dribbling to adjacent side, gains 1.
• Being tagged 3 times by player in middle means player goes into middle.
Adaptation & Progression
• Change the area size, shape, or have smaller target zones on each side
• Change the number of attackers and defenders (e.g. 3v2)
• Condition the practice so that only one player is able to be on one side at any one time (this will
increase the need for movement and evaluating the position of team mates as well the defender)
Key Coaching Points
• Ability to contact the ball using both feet and different parts of feet
• Ability to reverse or change direction quickly if confronted by an
opponent
• Looking-up to assess situation and capitalise on opportunities that
open-up.
• Making moves when player in middle is in a disadvantaged position.
• Assessing risk and making positive moves that involve an element
of risk to score high-tariff points.
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Fundamental Movements Corner Box Game
Practice Organisation
• An area 25x25yds is organised with four corner boxes marked as shown in the illustration
(size of area to be amended according to age and ability of the players in the group)
• 3 teams of four players start the practice in the central area
• One team is designated as the ‘tagging’ team (purples)
Detail:
The tagging team is given 60 seconds to try and tag as many players as possible.
• If a player is tagged, they must go to one of the squares and perform the designated activity.
Once completed they can re-join the practice.
• Swap the tagging team over after 60 seconds.
• Challenge for the tagging team is to see if they can send every attacker to one of the activity
squares in 60 seconds.
• Simple progressions to the practice:
- Attacking team has a ball to dribble.
- Defending team has a ball to dribble.
Coaching Points:
• Twisting, turning and dodging to avoid opponents (low centre of gravity).
• When being chased, can you ‘feint’ and ‘trick’ your opponent into thinking you’re going to
move one way before accelerating away in the opposite direction.
• When defending: react quickly to the movement of the players you are chasing.
• Work as a team to deceive and evade taggers.
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• Taggers to work as a team to catch the attackers – denying space and isolating attackers.
Receiving & Beating a Player
Practice Organisation
• Set up two corridors as per diagram 40x15yds
• One of the corridors is split into two areas and the other into three.
• The corridor with two areas has one defender working and the
corridor with three areas has two defenders working
• Each corridor has one attacker in. The attacker receives a pass from
the other attackers positioned on the outside
• The practice starts when a ball is fed into the attacker
• The defender must begin behind the line until the pass is made
• Once the attacker has attempted to beat their opponent and shoot
at goal, the attacker who was the server becomes the receiver, and
the attacker who attempted to beat the defender moves around onto
the next pitch- as a repetition circuit
Key Coaching Points
• As an attacker how can you give yourself the upper hand from the start?
(Scan the area to see defenders position)
• Unbalance defender with tricks and feints
• Recognise opportunity to shoot (hit the target)
Adaptation & Progression
• Change the overload according to the needs of the players- in favour of
attackers/defenders
• Give the defenders a ball to dribble to give attacker chance to shoot at goal
Counter Attacking
Practice Organisation
• Area divided into 4 zones as illustrated
• 15 players (incl. 2GK’s), arranged 4 Defenders (3 in practice
area) & Attackers (who operate in 3’s), as shown in the diagram.
• Practice starts with: 3 Attackers receive ball rolled-out by GK &
attack single Defender in 1st. zone.
• Progress is made to 2nd zone (which is safe for Attackers), prior
to attacking 3rd zone which contains 2 Defenders
• Objective is to score in opposite goal.
• Defenders avoid safe zones until they have won the ball back.
• If Defenders win possession: they counter-attack opposite goal
adding 4th Defender from side, as additional support.
Coaching Points
• Rotation of movement and quick play when appropriate, 'security' behind (don't
attack in a flat wave)
Why is it important we have support in all different angles?
• Defenders rotate positions after each phase of attack.
• Practice recommences from GK as previously described.
• Try and make the area size as wide as possible when in possession
• Control of passing, and support from team mates needed to keep possession
and break through defensive line
• Change of pace and angle of attack according to pressure, varying tempo to suit
the situation (not always fast)
How do you think varying our pace of the game can help us?
When might you change your speed?
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