Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Negative Transitions - Principles

Warm Up Activity

Transfer Game Focused on Recovering Ball

Set Up:

20yrd x 25yrd

4 v 4 v 4

Game:

- 2 teams work together to keep transferring the ball

- 1 transfer = 1pt

- Team defending can send 2 players to win the ball whilst two stay in the channel

- If the defending team win the ball they need to get the ball across to other side ASAP - Team who lost the ball can stay in and try and win until ball has transferred.

- If team win the ball but fail to transfer they stay in middle. Equally if they win the ball but it goes out off their touch they stay in. (Whicher team kicks out goes in middle).

- INITIATALLY ball has to be transferred across the ground

Coaching Points:

We are encouraging 2 things here:

1) When to press and when to drop signals: If we are close to the ball to press lets do it and do it as a team. Even the two players who stay in the channel can step to the edge of their zone and anticipate where the ball is going to go. (Have a sweeper between the two pressing players is a prinicple we want to get out in this game). Other signals include passing backwards, player with ball having head down for too long, poor pass/touch.

If the ball was successfully transferred and we are too far away from the player recieving the ball we may choose to defend entirely differently. We may send one player to press, one to cover and the other 2 to give balance. More like a mid-block or a back 4 sliding and screening.

2) How to react once ball has lost - To (by ANY means neccessary!) stop a forward pass and win the ball back immeditaely. Instant reactions ... again considering the above and understanding when to stop the press and hold some shape.

Reaction to Losing Ball in the final 3rd

Set Up:

- All players in middle and final 3rd with reds (team working with) in an attacking transition

- Reds have 1-3-3 and Blues have 2-3-1

- Funnel pitch at red team goal as we are missing players to complete those units. (If these players are included then we can open up closed parts of pitch). Just ensures the players are defending in the correct spaces and areas.

- PHILOSOPHY: We want 4-5 seconds of FURY - Aggressive pressing and cutting of angles with a lesser worry of space in behind. (Provided we are adequate distances and in right areas of pitch etc).

-IMPORTANT: If we have extra player do not give to blues - This is because when the target player recieves and attacks the blues will then have an overload which only allows us to drop and shape up as opposed to press. (Defending outnumbered requires dropping and protecting space in behind).

- We could give extra player as another target player and split the two target players through the middle areas.

Game:

- Reds work ball from GK into yellow target player to score a goal (target player can move between any 3 zones to recieve ball)

- Blues try to win the ball and can score in main goal

- Once ball gets to the yellow, they can attack with the blues creating our transition and reaction from reds

- If blues score they get a goal and if reds win again they can counter the counter and play into yellow's goal. (After this reset into Red keeper).

Coaching Points:

- Nearest player: Can I press? What distances am I from the player who has just won the ball?

- IF PRESS, PRESS HARD:

- Go as a 2 minimum - Can one close on the ball and the second cut the nearest most obvious option.(Not by standing infront of them but by getting close to player on ball)

- Need a 3rd player to 'sweep' the space behind the press incase we are bypassed in the initial press

- When rest of players tighten go ball side if possible to keep spaces small (Further away places can make goal side for balance)

- Need defensive line to read the press and push higher up pitch and need to bring line higher to reduce gaps between the lines

- Once you have pressed, drop back into your spaces and cover areas

- RECOVER into spaces when teammates go and press

- Once pressure is finished and opposition have kept the ball, hold a shape and protect space in the midde and in behind

- Comunicate up the units, not just within the units. - GK -> DEF -> MID -> ATT

IF DROP, CONDENSE AND DONT ALLOW MIDDLE, CUTTING FORWARD PASS:

- Drop into a shape - Especially middle 2 dont allow ball through you

- 2 wide forwards need to drop in ASAP if we release the press

- Maybe 10 might support 1 of the WFs?

- Make them play into corners where we can then go out and press the cross situation

- If player on ball drives forward, line of engagement - 25yrs from goal we need to put pressure on this player. (OR DONT ALLOW PLAYER TO DRIVE MORE THAN 5 YRDS).

- Body shape to force AWAY FROM GOAL

Condiderations:

- What is causing us to be far away from the yellows to press immediately & win ball early?

LONG BALL INTO YELLOW CAN EFFECT ABILITY TO PRESS - With this thought, can we play shorter possession-based football and make sure as the ball moves up the pitch the centre backs and deeper players and moving up the pitch. GK INCLUDED!

What Ifs?

- Our hard press doesnt work? Can we recognise when to stop the press and get into a mid-block as per our philsophy? Signals: Player on ball with time and space.. can easily get head up and make a forward pass (generally an outlet player)

- We are beaten from the press and end up outnumbered and out balanced? We need to delay and drop narrowing as we drop. Recoveries from higher players onto ball essential.