Football/Soccer Session (Advanced): TRANSITION FROM DEFENCE TO ATTACK.

Group / Unit Development (20 mins)

Organization:

1. Set up as shown.

Instructions:

1. The exercise starts with the servers (GKs) on side passing to one of the three attackers.

2. The Red defender in middle applies immediate pressure on the ball and looks to win the ball back while the other three defenders provide cover and balance.

3. Attackers look to dribble across to the end-line (18 yard box) with ball while defenders look to defend and score in the three counter goals (red cones).

4. If defending team reds wins the ball, they can score by passing or dribbling through the red gates.

5. New attackers and new defenders comes in to start another round when a goal is score or whenever the ball goes out of play.

6. Both team switches roles on coach's call.

Coaching Points (Defending Team):

1. Defending Principles: Pressure, Cover, Balance, Delay and Compactness.

2. Scanning and awareness before possession is regained to recognise the attacking opportunity.

3. Drive forward at speed to score upon winning possession.

4. Get forward in numbers to support the attack

5. Play vertical / forward passes to the highest player on the pitch to counter attack quickly.

6. Decision making - What? Where? When? Who? Why? What if? i.e. when to play quick short or long passes? why to go solo? What if counter attack isn't on upon regaining possession?

Coaching Points (Attacking Team):

1. Spread out i.e. provide width and depth when in possession.

2. Utilize space and triangulate to create passing options.

3. Create a point of attack and then quickly look to switch the point of attack.

4. Speed of play i.e. move the ball quickly to unbalance the defending team.

5. Counter press upon losing possession and drive forward at speed to score when possession is regained.

Progression/Regression:

1. Coach adds different variation on how to start the exercise i.e. Server/GK plays into defending team, 

2. Two blue players are placed into the reds half with the blue team starting with possession.

Scenario Game / Practice Game (30mins)

Organization:

Set up as shown. 2 x Teams of 8v8.

Scenario game (15mins) / Practice Game (15mins): 

Reds (Atletico Madrid) sets up in a low block and look to defend deep to counter attack. With the other team Blues (Man City) being a team who have to play clever, inventive passing with improvisation to break down the Reds defence. To score all blue players must be in the attacking half which will then give the opportunity for Reds to counter attack and score.

Instructions:

1. Reds setup in a 1-3-3-1 formation while Blues setup in a 1-2-2-3 formation.

2. Reds - You are a team that defends deep to counter attack. 

3. Blues You are a team that play quick, inventive passing with improvisation to break down the opposition defence, all players needs to be in attacking half to score.

Coaching Points:

1. Speed of the attacks to catch defence unbalanced - Reds need to come up with a strategy to regain possession and then attack quickly, with width and depth, to attack the opposition goal through quick individual or collective play.

2. Options ahead of the ball - In order to counter attack, the team in possession must penetrate the opposition through dribbling, short / long passing combinations and a passing option ahead of the ball can help to dis organise the defence.

3. Movements to attack space and receive - Player movements that can support the attack with overlaps, underlaps, come short to spin in behind, go long to drop short and receive etc.

4. Quick finishing.