This week's exercises are from our book, 'Coaching the 4-3-3 Advanced Tactics'
BALL CIRCULATION #3
Take the same concept in the previous two exercises and expand the grid slightly to 20x25 and increase the numbers inside so that you have 5v5 plus 4. You now have three layers to work with in possession instead of just one or two layers. In addition, you also have the same when working with defending. Set the players inside up in a 1-3-1 formation with the central neutral players shifting and moving to support the central player in possession. In this exercise you see the near side wide player supporting closer to the ball.
The supporting central defensive player is in position to combine with both defenders (neutral players). Work with those two central defenders to determine when they should play opposite, when they should step inside with possession, and when they should look for forward options quickly.
There are two reasons why this will break down quickly: 1. The inside players move to a space and then stop and wait. They need to continue to shift and move and rotate in and out of supporting positions. 2. There are three distinct layers within the team in this exercise (the one forward player, the three midfield players, and the one forward player).
This is in addition to the neutral players in the exercise. With such a small space it is very important that the three layers do not compress to close the spaces. Make sure the team in possession is getting as wide and as deep as possible to open up the space so they can work on protecting the ball and work on quick ball circulation.
