Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Create Scoring Chances in a 3-5-2

6v2 Rondo with 4 mini goals (10 mins)

Set Up:

Use an area 15*12 with four mini goals as seen in the diagram

• Eight players are divided into four pairs. Three of them (red, yellow, blue) – start on the outside of a small playing area. A fourth pair (black) – start in the middle, as the defending team.
• The coach begins by passing into one of the outside players. The six outside players should look to keep the ball against a press from the two inside players for as long as possible. They must also ensure it is transferred to the opposite side of the pitch every three seconds.
• The two defenders must attempt to win the ball or disrupt possession as quickly as possible. If they win it back and have controlled possession, they should try and and score in one of the four mini-goals – an example of this is shown in Diagram 1.
• If the defenders successfully score in one of the mini-goals, they can choose any team of two to become the defenders.
• If the ball is intercepted by the two defenders and the ball goes out of play, the team of two that gave possession away will become the defenders.
• These changeovers should be done quickly. The coach will pass a ball into one of the possession team of six as soon as a goal is scored, a pass is intercepted or the ball goes out of the area.
• Each working block lasts for four minutes.

Coaching Points:

TEAM IN POSSESION

• Quick short switches
  • The players must ensure the ball is switched to the opposite half of the pitch within three seconds. Players should look to use a maximum of two touches to ensure this condition is met.
• Punched passes
  • Passes must be punched in with good weight and direction throughout the possession games. This will limit the chances of any interceptions or losses of possession.
• Opening passing lanes
  • The in-possession team must constantly be adjusting their positions to ensure a passing option is always on for the player in possession.
  • Players may need to make counter-movements in order to create a new passing line if one is closed off by the defenders.

• Working as a pair
  • The pressing two must ensure they ‘work as a pair’ as they’re defending against a big overload. They should constantly be communicating in an effort to trigger pressing opportunities.
• Setting a trap
  • The coach challenges the defending pair to set traps and encourage the ball into tight areas of the pitch before trying to steal possession or disrupt play.
• Pressing triggers
  • Recognizing pressing triggers could give the defenders the best opportunity to win the ball back in this practice. They should be on the look-out for poor first touches and slow passes, which can both be a trigger to press aggressively.

5v4 Small Sided

Set Up:

• This is a 5v4 attack v defense played on a pitch of around 40 yards x 30 yards. The attacking team plays with three central midfield players and two forwards from the 3-5-2 formation. The #6 plays as a neutral player so that when the defending team wins the ball it becomes 5v4 in favor of the defending team.
• There is also a line of four mannequins across the 18-yard box for added interference. 
• The team attacking the main goal (red in diagram) should try to play through the opposition and in between the mannequins for a teammate to finish. Players are not allowed to dribble past the mannequins to score – there must be a through pass.
• The defending team (blue) should look to prevent through balls, steal possession and score in any of the three mini-goals. If they do so, they become the attackers.
• Once a through ball has been played beyond the mannequins, all players are free to enter the penalty area.
• Once a goal is scored or the ball leaves the pitch, the players should return to their starting positions in anticipation of the next ball from the coach.

Coaching Points

• COMBINATIONS TO OPEN SPACE 
  • Quick combinations, using one or two touches, will move the defenders and open up spaces for the attacking team to exploit.
• PREPARE YOUR BODY
  • The players are challenged to think about how to prepare their body in order to receive and pass quickly.
  • They should position their body to allow them to take their first touch into space or away from the opposition.
• OPEN BODY TO PLAY A SHORT SWITCH
  • When receiving the ball from one of the wide zones, players should try and receive with an open body. This will allow them to take the ball on their back foot to switch quickly.
• EXPLOITING THE OVERLOAD
  • Look to overload the defenders in one area to either exploit having numbers up situations in that area or create an opportunity by switching play if the defensive team becomes unbalanced