WORLD CLASS COACHING
40 Small-Sided Games
By Luca Bertolini
Table of Contents
PART THREE
5v5, 6v6 and 7v7 Small-Sided Games
5 v 5 Exercises (1)
Set-up and Sequence: a 5 v 5 duel is played inside a rectangular space.
The goal for the possession team is to play a minimum number of passes to gain 1 point. The possession worth doubles when a wide ball carrier has back and upper supports, an inside passing option and the fifth teammate can receive on the run forward.
If the defenders win the ball, they must play the same way.
Eye on: pay attention to the positioning on the pitch, 1 v 1 defense.
5 v 5 Exercises (2)
Set-up and Sequence: this exercise is a variation of the previous one.
The goal for the possession team is to play to the fifth teammate, who can receive inside an end zone of the opposition. The possession is worth double when a wide ball carrier has back and upper supports, an inside passing option and the fifth teammate can receive on the run forward to score.
If the defenders win the ball, they must reach the opposite end zone.
Eye on: pay attention to the positioning on the pitch, 1 v 1 and space defense.
5 v 5 Exercises (3)
Set-up and Sequence: a 5 v 5 duel is played inside a rectangular space that is divided into 2 halves. 3 v 3 duels must be shaped inside each half.
The goal for the possession team is to play a minimum number of passes to gain 1 point, playing 3 v 3 inside each area. 1 attacking player and 1 defending player must support the teammates to keep or win the ball.
If the defenders win the ball, they must play the same way inside the opposite half.
Eye on: quick positioning on the pitch, support the teammates with the right timing.
5 v 5 Exercises (4)
Set-up and Sequence: a 5 v 5 duel is played inside a rectangular space that is divided into 2 halves. 3 v 3 duels are played inside the build up areas; 2 v 3 duels are played inside the finishing area.
The goal for the possession team is to play a minimum number of passes to gain 1 point, playing 3 v 2 inside the building up area; the second goal for the team in possession is to shot as quickly as possible, when the ball is played inside the finishing area.
If the defenders win the ball, they must play the same way on the opposite half.
Variation: if the defenders win the ball a 5 v 5 duel is played to counter-attack toward the opposite direction.
Eye on: keep the possession safe, finish quickly.
5 v 5 Exercises (5)
Set-up and Sequence: a 5 v 5 duel is played inside a rectangular space that is divided into 2 halves. 3 v 3 duels are played inside the build up areas; 2 v 3 duels are played inside the finishing area. 2 flanks are added in this practice.
The possession team must build up through 2 wide players as in the picture, after a minimum number of touches. A 4 v 3 duel is now created inside the finishing area.
The wide players of the defending team must stay placed inside the center zone to save the goal space, preventing the attacking team from scoring.
Eye on: keep the possession safe; finish quickly exploiting the numerical advantage.
6 v 6 Exercises (1)
Set-up and Sequence: a 6 v 6 duel is played inside a rectangular space that is divided into two areas horizontally; 4 players of each team are placed inside one of the halves as in the picture. 2 more players are placed along the half sides of the set-up, on the left and on the right alternately.
The goal for the possession team is to play toward the opposite zone, where the second wide teammate must receive to keep the possession, waiting for the others to run toward the opposite half. All the players in the middle and the first wide teammate must have touched the ball, before changing the half pitch.
If the defenders win the ball, they must play the same way.
Variations:
1) If the defenders win the possession, a 6 v 6 free duel is played all over the space
2) If the defenders win the possession, the wide teammate on the other half must receive the first pass
Eye on: quick passes combinations, clever positioning to keep the possession.
6 v 6 Exercises (2)
Set-up and Sequence: this is a progression of the previous exercise. A 6 v 6 duel is played inside a rectangular space that is divided into 2 areas horizontally; 4 players of each team are placed inside 1 of the halves as in the picture. 2 more players are placed along the half sides of the set-up, on the left and on the right alternately. Each team has a goal to attack and a goal to defend.
The goal for the possession team is to play toward the opposite zone, where the second wide teammate must receive to keep the possession and to score, waiting for the others to run toward the opposite half.
All the players in the middle and the first wide teammate must have touched the ball before changing the half pitch. The first wide player runs inside to create a 2 v 2 defense situation, as well as the second wide player of the defending team runs inside to equalize the number of players.
If the defenders win the ball, they must pass the ball toward the attacking half to try to win the 2 v 2 duel.
Eye on: quick passes combinations, clever positioning to finish as soon as possible, finish the counter-attacking phase as soon as possible.
6 v 6 Exercises (3)
Set-up and Sequence: a 6 v 6 duel is played inside a rectangular space that is divided into 3 areas in each half; a double 3 v 3 duels is then played, and 1 v 1 duels are played inside the center zone and along the flanks, as in the picture.
The goal for the possession team is to play wide to build first and then to finish in the mini-goal after an outside/inside wall passing combination.
If the defenders win the ball, they must play the same way.
Variations:
If the defenders win the possession, the ball must be played toward the opposite side where a 3 v 3 duel is played to counter-attack
Eye on: escape the marker to receive, feints to win the 1 v 1 duels.
6 v 6 Exercises (4)
Set-up and Sequence: this exercise is a progression of the previous one; as the first wide player on the flank receives, the second opposite one must run inside to create 2 v 1 duels to build up first and to finish then.
All the combinations must be performed with 1 or 2 touches; if it's not possible, the defending team wins the possession.
If the defenders win the ball, the must play the same way, once the possession is safe.
Variations:
If the defenders win the possession, the ball must be played toward the opposite side where a 3 v 3 duel is played to counter-attack through the center zone.
Eye on: receive behind the opponent, quick combinations to win the 2 v 1 duels.
6 v 6 Exercises (5)
Set-up and Sequence: this exercise is another progression to coach the transitions to attack. 4 more mini goals are added along the borderlines of the flanks, as in the picture.
If the defenders win the ball, they must play wide, inside the attacking half and change the side through the center, to allow the second wide player finishing. 1 v 1 duels are played.
Eye on: play out wide quickly and change side as soon as possible with the fewer number of touches.
7 v 7 Exercises
This picture shows the playing space inside a half pitch. The space is marked out from the borderline of the penalty area and the middle line, it's wide as the penalty area and it's divided into three parts with the same measures.
7 v 7 Exercises (1)
Set-up and Sequence: a 7 v 7 duel is played inside the marked space. A double 2 v 2 is played inside the outer areas and a 3 v 3 is played inside the center one.
The goal for the possession team is to move the ball up and down the pitch, winning the duels and allowing all the players inside each area touching the ball.
If the defenders win the ball, they must play the same way, starting from the opposite outer area where the ball comes from.
This practice is designed to coach the possession phase of the 1-4-2-3-1 for midfielders and advanced players (2-3)
Eye on: quick passes combinations, win individual duels.
7 v 7 Exercises (2)
Set-up and Sequence: a 7 v 7 duel is played inside the marked space. 4 defenders for each team are placed inside the outer areas; a 3 v 3 duel is played in the center zone.
The goal for the possession team is to move the ball up to the middle zone from the outer area, where all the players must have touched the ball within 5", and then to attack the third area, trying to dribble the ball over the end line, playing outnumbered 3 v 4.
If the defenders win the ball, they must play the same way, starting from the back, wherever the ball is recovered.
This practice is designed to coach the possession phase of the 1-4-3-3 for defenders and midfielders (4-3)
Eye on: move the ball to move the opposition and to create space, overcome the first line of pressure.
7 v 7 Exercises (3)
Set-up and Sequence: a 7 v 7 duel is played inside the marked space. 3 midfielders for each team are placed inside the outer areas; a 4 v 4 duel is played inside the center zone.
The goal for the possession team is to move the ball from the middle zone to the outer area, if all the players must have touched the ball within 5" and then to keep the ball in a 3 v 3 duel, as 3 of the 4 players of the opposition team can run back to counter the possession team. When all the 3 possession players have touched the ball, they must pass back to start the sequence again.
If the defenders win the ball, they must play the same way, starting from the middle area, wherever the ball is recovered.
This practice is designed to coach the possession phase of the 1-4-3-3 for defenders and midfielders (4-4 and 3-3), under pressure and to coach the dropping back movements of the defenders, if their line is overcome.
Eye on: move the ball under pressure to create space, keep the possession to invite the opposition pressure.
7 v 7 Exercises (4)
Set-up and Sequence: a 7 v 7 duel is played inside the marked space. 4 defenders and 1 forward for each team are placed inside the outer areas; a 2 v 2 duel is played in the center zone. Each team has a goal to attack and another one to defend on the deep borderlines of the structure.
The goals for the possession team are to move the ball upward quickly from the back, to support the possession phase inside the middle area creating a 4 v 2 numerical advantage and to finish inside the third area creating numerical advantage again (5 v 4).
If the defenders win the ball, they must play the same way, starting from the middle area, wherever the ball is recovered. The sequence must be carried out from the starting situation.
This practice is designed to coach the possession phase of the 1-4-3-3, with the center midfielder as upper vertex (4-2-1), creating numerical advantage to play out.
Eye on: move the ball forward quickly; create numerical advantage to play out and to finish.
7 v 7 Exercises (5)
Set-up and Sequence: this practice is a progression of the previous one. The goal is to coach the transition to attack phase of play.
If the defenders win the possession while playing 4 v 5, they can counter-attack freely through the middle area (3 v 0), exploiting the 3 v 2 numerical advantage inside the third finishing area.
1 midfielder and 1 defender support the move; all the other players must provide space coverage at the back.
Eye on: pressure and space coverage, support the counter-attacks.
