WORLD CLASS COACHING
Coaching the Back Three - Conte
By Stefano Santona
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part Four
CONDITIONED GAMES
DEFENDING BY FINISHING
CONCLUSION
7. Conditioned Games
6 V 6, score on the sides.
Area size: depending on age and quality of the players
Number of players: 12 (6 defenders, 6 offensive players)
Objective: find the space on the sides, lock and close the spaces on the sides
Time: 15 - 20 minutes
Description:
Game 6v6, goal valid in the little goals placed on the sides.
Defense v Attack
Area size: depending on age and quality of the players
Number of players: 15 (6 defenders, 8 offensive players, 1 gk)
Objective: find the space on the sides, lock and close the spaces on the sides, find the pass behind the defense
Time: 15 - 20 minutes
Description:
Play the game. Black team has to score in the little goals. Yellow team has to score in the big goal. Defense has to move back and be ready for the cross; it is important to keep the offside line. The wing has to run back to the box if the central defender is going to stop the striker (point n. 1 in the picture).
8. Defending by the Finishing
Don’t let them shoot 3v1 – dribbling
Area size: depending on age and quality of the players
Number of players: 7 (3 defenders, 3 offensive players, 1 gk)
Objective: stop the player that is coming, lock and close the spaces between the defenders
Time: 10 minutes
Description:
Each striker has to dribble the ball and score (first one is number 1, then number 2, then number 3). The strikers can choose the way they want. Defenders have to stop the strikers and to move quickly united; it is important to keep the offside line. After one striker’s shot the second one starts.
Don’t let them shoot 1v1 – through passes
Area size: depending on age and quality of the players
Number of players: 10 (3 defenders, 6 offensive players, 1 gk)
Objective: stop the player that is going to score after the through pass, lock and close the spaces between the defenders
Time: 10 minutes
Description:
Each striker has to receive the through ball and score (first one is number 1, then number 2, then number 3). Each defender has to stop the strikers, so we are playing 1v1 chasing the striker. After one striker’s shot the second one starts.
9. Conclusion
The most important steps to remember are:
1. Build the player (before to educate him as interpreter of a philosophy, he must have high rated technical abilities)
2. Educate the interpreters (single player)
3. Organize an efficient defensive department (link several players together)
4. Create the links between defensive and offensive department
5. Work on positive and negative transition
6. Work over-numbered or out-numbered
Related to the exercises, we have to:
1. Start from a standard situation;
2. Work on difficult situation, giving players opportunities to learn by induction (“reading” skills).
We must also remember that the time is the most important factor if we talk about an organized and complex work; so we have to use that as a parameter to work with.
With the exercises, we must transfer to the players our tactical choice (the coach must transfer a player's code to the defensive stage).
