Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): General Practice 1 - Transition from Out of Possession to Inpossession

Screen 2

Set Up

2 teams made of 6 players (red = defenders, blue = attackers)

4 quarters 10x10yds, flats to create circle as shown above

Defenders to begin in the circle 

Attackers to be placed as shown above (e.g. 2 quarters with 2 players; 2 quarters with 1 player)

Balls, always begins with attacker

4 mini goals (or cones to make goals) placed as shown

4 x 3 minute blocks, 2-3 minutes rest or additional coaching/transition

- Aim is for the blues to score points via maintaining possession within each quarter, after achieving a pass target the ball must be played into another quarter. 

- The aim for the red team is to work in pairs to retrieve the ball from the blues and to work the ball into 1 of 4 goals placed around the box and to defend the ball from being passed through the circle. Only 2 defenders are allowed in each quarter at a time, ensures effective communication to prepare for a press. Once the ball is passed to a different quarter, the two current pressing players must return to the circle.

- Once the defenders have regained possession, all red players are allowed to roam every quarter as well as the blues (as the blues will aim to regain possession); this will open up opportunities for ball play and the effectiveness of transitioning from defensive to offensive positioning.

- An additional attacker can join in to a quarter with only 1 attacker to begin however a ball cannot be dribbled into another quarter it must be passed.

This exercise not only gets the players to focus on regaining possession, but also thinking ahead regarding how they would be able to transfer the ball into a goal when regaining possession.

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

- Pass target increase/decrease

- Amount of defenders pressing increase/decrease

- Touch limitation

- Open up to halves instead of working in quarters

- Allow flow of additional attackers in to other quarters or halves

- Take away two mini goals

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

- Attackers must create 5 passes before transferring the ball to another quarter; they score 1 point every 5 passes they make and will get another 5 points if they can pass the ball successfully through the circle.

- Defenders will score 2 points every time they win or intercept a pass, if they can work the ball into any of the 4 goals then they get another additional 5 points.

 Success Criteria

- Points being scored as mentioned

- Pressing triggers

- Technical i.e. tackling, control, passing etc.  

- Tactical i.e. pressing runs, forcing direction of play etc.

- Effective communication strategy of both teams