Football/Soccer Session (Advanced): Quick Defensive Transition near Opponent Penalty Area

4v4+3 Rondo (15 mins)

Set Up: Use a 20*15 area (may need to adjust size of area based on developmental level of players).

The attacking team is on the outisde (red in this diagram) while the blue team defends. Both teams have four players. There are also three neutral players (two targets and one central). Team in possession try to move the ball from one target player to the other.

If the defending team (blue) wins the ball they become the attackers and must now position themselves on the outside while the red team would now become the defenders and position themselves centrally.

Coaching Points:

- Always try to have open body stance when in possession to aid faster speed of play when in possession

- Whenever ball is lost team must make quick transition to win the ball back starting with player that is closest to ball. All players must react quickly

- Immediately after losing possession players should try to get the ball back before the other team has a chance to get organized

7v7 SSG w/cone gates (25 mins)

Objective: To work on high press and prevent forward passing/dribbling from opponents during transitions.

Set up:

In a 30*40 yard area we have 2 full size goals with goalkeepers and we create 5 small cone gates positioned as shown in the diagram. We play 6v6+GKs with the teams in a 3-3 (or 2-3-1) formation and play a high intensity small sided game with emphasis on the transition from attack to defence. The game starts with the goalkeeper and one team in possession (reds in diagram) with the following objectives.

- Pass ball from one teammate to naother through gate (1 point)

- Dribble through gate (2 points)

- Score goal (3 pints)

All these different opportunities to score make the defending team apply intense pressure to the ball, especially the ball carrier and in and around the ball zone. This is done to limit the choices of the ball carrier and force a mistake - ultimately preventing the opposition from scoring any points.

11v11 Conditined game (30 mins)

Set Up:

Play 11v11 in a 3 zone game using approximately two thirds of the full field. Create 3 zones as seen in the diagram, 40 yards long for the attacking zone, 25 yards for the middle zone, and 15 yards for the defensive zone. Red team plays in a 4-3-3 formation. Play a regular game starting with the red team goalkeeper. The red team has the specific objective of making a quick transition from attack to defence if possession is lost.

Red gets 1 point to recover ball in attacking third in6 seconds or less.

Red team gets 1 point for a goal

Blue team gets 1 point for playing a pass in the 15 yard zone and if they score a goal they get 2 points

Coaching points:

- If ball is lost in attacking third they must apply pressure to the ball carrier imediately to limit options to play forward forcing errant pass or bad decision so ball can be recovered quickly

- If ball is lost in the middle third then all players must converge together around the ball area with players ahead of the ball tracking back and payers behind the ball pushing up to prevent the opposition from playing into the next and final zone