By Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.
Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on working the ball out of the back and switching fields quickly.
Start with a full field and one full sided team (in this case I’m using a 4-4-2 but can be in any formation you choose) and an opposing team with a couple less players (in this case they are in a 2-3-2)
The ball starts with the keeper of the full sided team and they try to work the ball out of the back.
The team with the ball is NOT in a hurry to advance the ball so can play the ball around the back as much as they want.
While they aren’t in a hurry they do want to play quickly because too often teams play the ball around the back with slow passes and too many touches and by the time the point of attack has been changed, the defense has been able to adjust.
The objective of this activity is for the full sided team to work the ball around, be patient but play quickly and capitalize on number up situations while trying to get to the opposing goal.
As they get better at playing quickly, slowly add additional defenders. If the defending team wins the ball they try to quickly counter but if they can’t get to goal quickly, reset and start again.
As the players learn to play harder passes and take fewer touches, they will find this game becomes easier and easier.
Even at the highest levels you will see teams switching fields with soft passes and taking too many touches so getting the players to apply this in a game situation is NOT easy but definitely worth pursuing.
Have a great day!
Lawrence
By Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.
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