Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Attacking transition

Continuous attacking transition

Organisation:

• Max 14 players - 3 teams of 4 + 2 GK's
• Reds vs Blues (vs Yellows)
• Red team start by attacking the Blue team goal as shown. 
• The central zone is a neutral zone which attackers can use and defenders cannot enter.
• Reds look to score, if they do, the coach plays them another ball to attack the other end (yellow team).
• However, if the Blues regain possession, from the Reds, the Blues will look to dribble/pass the ball into the neutral zone. Once here, the Red team (previously attacking) become the defending team in this area for the next attacking transition. Reds stay put for now and don’t go beyond the neutral zone. 
• Blues now attack the Yellows in a continuous fashion. 
• If Blues score against the Yellows, the coach plays them another ball to attack the other end (Red team).
• If the ball goes out of play we will reset the game and begin from the Neutral zone. 

Modify:

• Remove defending players - e.g. 4 attacking 3 defenders.
• If the 3 defenders turn over the 4 attackers it then becomes a 3 v 3 for the next transition. 

• Alternatively- if the 3 defenders turn over the 4 attackers you could add in a removed player in the neutral zone upon the next transition. 

• If no goalkeepers (or only 1) use mini goals on either or both ends. 
• Vary the angle of the initial attack. 
• Vary the type of first ball into the attacker’s. 
• Make the neutral zone bigger to make it easier and to help the transition. 
• Remove the neutral zone and replace with a halfway/offside line. 
• Reduce the size of the pitch/playing area to make it more difficult.
• Increase the pitch size to make it easier. 

Attacking Coaching:

• Quality Passing - Accuracy, Weight & Timing
• Awareness
• Movement to Receive
• Communication
• Timing of runs
• Speed
• How do we unbalance the defenders

Defending Coaching:

• Pressing - who presses and when
• Cover & Balance of supporting defending
• Compactness
• Communication 
• Delay

Transition Coaching:

• Quick reactions
• Decision making on winning possession - play safe or play forward?
• Decision making on losing possession - aggressive press or drop off?

Questions:

• Initially, what are the attacking principles we want to be thinking about? 
• On the flip of that - What are the defending principles we want to be thinking about? 

Counter Pressing 1

Organisation:

• All players are restricted to their zones.
• The team pressing will attempt to win possession and score in any of the mini-goals in order to reverse roles with the team who lost possession.
• Teams in possession will attempt to retain the ball.
• Emphasis on quick transition/counter-pressing when the ball has been lost to avoid conceding.

Attacking KP's:

• Quality Passing - Accuracy, Weight & Timing
• Awareness
• Movement to Receive
• Communication
• Timing of runs

Defending KP's:

• Pressing - who, where, when
• Cover & Balance of supporting defending
• Compactness
• Communication
• Delay

Transition KP's:

• Quick reactions
• Decision making on winning possession - play safe or play forward?
• Decision making on losing possession - aggressive press or drop off?

Questions:

• What attacking principles are we working on here?
• What defensive principles are we working on here?

Counter Pressing 3

Organisation:

• Players that are placed around the outside of the playing area are restricted to their zones. 
• Players placed around the outside are restricted to one touch. 
• The yellow neutral players work with the team in possession.
• Teams will attempt to score in their opponents goal. 
• In possession teams will have a 10 vs 6 overload. 
• Emphasis will be on quick counter pressing when possession is lost.



Attacking KP's:

• Quality Passing - Accuracy, Weight & Timing
• Awareness
• Movement to Receive
• Communication
• Timing of runs

Defending KP's:

• Pressing - who, where, when
• Cover & Balance of supporting defending
• Compactness
• Communication
• Delay

Transition KP's:

• Quick reactions
• Decision making on winning possession - play safe or play forward?
• Decision making on losing possession - aggressive press or drop off?

Questions:

• What attacking principles are we working on here?
• What defensive principles are we working on here?

Timing of Runs 3

Organisation:

• Players are restricted to the start zone until a forward pass is made in the end zone (The offside rule is in play). 
• Yellow neutral players work with the team in possession.
• The team in possession will attempt to play a forward pass into the end zone in order to advanced on goal. 
• The defending team will attempt to win possession and score in any of three target goals in order to reverse team roles

Attacking KP's:

Defending KPs:

Questions:

• How can we create space in behind the opposition defence?
• How can we increase our chances of scoring?

Using Width - Crossing & Finishing

Organisation:

• The neutral players will work with the team in possession. 
• Two players from the defending team may press in the start zone.

• One team will attack the goal. The play begins as a 4v2 in the start zone in favor of the team attacking. 
• The objective of the attacking team is to complete five or more passes before switching the ball to either of the two neutral players. 
• When the ball is switched to a wide player the play becomes open, all players will attack or defend the cross that will arrive in the box. 
• The objective of the defending team is to win the ball and score in any of the two target goals in order to reverse team roles.

Attacking KP's:

Defending KPs:

Questions:

• What type of runs into the box are we making?
• How do we know what run our teammate is making?