ANIMATION 2
In this progression, a striker is added to the scenario. The striker is considered a neutral player plays a number 9 role for the team in possession. With the striker in, you can add assign a player of each team with the duty of marking him. 1 on 1 marking and other 2 midfield players press high against players in possession. Once the attack is finished, the coach sends antoher ball forcing both teams to transition. The striker also here reacts as fast as possible to help his new team to counter attack, or start their turn in rondos. I suggest to slow down transition in the first number of sessions. When players master the drill, you may set some seconds for each attack to speed up counter attacks.
ANIMATION 1
The next set of small sided games will simulate serious game situations. The components of each game will include physical and mental burden. This is acquired by continuous heavy pressure by defending team and frequent transitions.
In the shown game, 2 midfield teams competing. 4 players each team. When one team in possession, they have the 4 players in action. While the team in defense will have 2 applying high pressure against the opponents and two others protecting their zone. The players in rondo should complete set number of passes before initiating an attack. Players should perform the attack in following the tactical directions of the coach. Directly after the finish of the attack, the coach passes a ball to the opponents in the rondo zone forcing both team to transition. Note the goal keeper actions when their team in possession and in defense.
FINAL
This is a drill where the defenders are put under serious pressure to come back from a high line defense.
The forwards allowed to move ahead the offside line fot 2 to 3 steps to give them advantage and pressure defenders. The defenders will have to be quick and communicate louder. The forwards should move in sharp lines forcing defenders to be physically challenged while trying to cover, mark and press.
PROGRESSION.
In here,the target player is allowed in. 3 forwards now can go past the gates. The defenders will have to put more pressure on ball holder. While the other mates will try to mark and cover the pass forwards. This will force defenders to communicate louder and try to be more aware to anticipate the next move by the forwards.
INTRODUCE
3 center backs is coming back to the game with giant teams applying this method of defending more. In the next drills we will demonstrate their defensive role while defending high up in the field. While defenders are high lined, the forwards have high chances to pass the ball behing defenders’ backs and exploit their speed to get their chance.
In this drill, we are trying to introduce to defenders this kind of danger. The poles in the middle create gates where forwards have to pass through. This will force defenders to cover these gates and try to block a pass. The 2 players at each end are the target players. They are allowed to move along the line to create a possible passing lane to their mates.
Forwards are allowed to move 2 to 3 steps beyond the offside line, the gates. This will create more pressure on defenders and recurrent situations where they will have to cover the gates, then run back to stop forwards from scoring their point. 2 forwards move up, 3 defenders go back. 1 to press the ball holder, one to mark the other forward, while the third move into the channel trying to block a pass to the target player.
MORE PRESSURE
In this drill, a zone is added to the middle of the penalty box to pressuer defenders more. The play starts, while one defender presses, and the other marks, the third defender must be covering the mini box in the penalty area following the ball play. The forwards try to hold on the ball for set seconds in each zone to give more time for the defenders to apply their roles.
REPEAT
In this game, 4 neutral players at the side. The forwards have one player with the bibs who always recieves the ball. The player with the bib transfers himself from one zone to another with his marking player presses him. The ball is then passed to him and the game goes on as in the previous drill. When the ball is out, the game restarts with the player in the bib awaits the ball while others move marking and covering.
MARK, COVER, PRESS
In the following drills, the defenders work shall simulate 3 center backs to press, mark and cover.
The playing zone is divided into 4 boxes, 3 defenders, 3 forwards, 2 neutral players send a ball back in if goes out.
The play starts, 1 defender follows the player with the ball and applies pressuer on him. The 2 other mates follow the other forwards, mark and cover their areas.
The defender who is pressing the forward with the ball is allowed to press trying to block his directions.
The defender who is marking the forward closer to the ball holder should mark his man trying to keep him behind him and control his shoulders. The one who is marking the forward far from play must cover the area, meanwhile keeping an eye on the forward at his zone.
The forwards must hold on the ball for set of seconds as the aim in this drill is to educate defenders and expose them to enouh time of defensive work.
PROGRESSION 2
THIS DRILL IS A PROGRESSION OF THE PREVIOUS.
When the coach sees his players understood the process, the goal on the other side is added. The 2 neutrals also help to get the ball back in quickly.
The defenders win a point when they successfully send the ball outside to the sidelines. While forwards have to score to get one point. However, as the aim of this drill is to educate defenders, forwards have always to pass the ball wide to their mates, whenever the ball is in the middle of the playing zone, mates have to go to both sides to receive a pass.
PROGRESSION 1
This drill we created channels. This should help the players to repeat the process with more understanding.
The 2 neutral players at the sides support to help get the ball back in quickly when the defender succeeds taking the ball to the sidelines. When he does that, they send it back to the defender who should manage to take the ball back to the coach also under similar defending by the player who lost the ball.