WORLD CLASS COACHING
Developing Soccer Intelligence Through 4v4 Vol 2
By Philip Cauchi
Table of Contents
PART ONE
Introduction
Progressive Sessions
PART TWO
Progressive Sessions
PART THREE
Progressive Sessions
PART FOUR
Progressive Sessions
Introduction
The exercises presented in this section can all be used by beginners, intermediate or advanced players alike. The coach just needs to increase or decrease the area of play, increase or decrease the number of participating players and increase or decrease the complexity of the exercises; i.e. the constraints presented.
The beginner stage
Training sessions aimed for beginners target the development of creating triangles and angles of support. The players assimilate this concept with the use of exercises and games that promote passing patterns within a diamond formation. The quality of passes and touch oriented reception is continuously emphasised during this consolidation phase, therefore the technical competence of the players is enhanced. Throughout this stage, we aim to develop having a rhythm between the four members of the team through various exercises including combination play within a dynamic environment.
The intermediate stage.
During this stage the training sessions focus more on positional play, off-the-ball movement to create space and basic interchanging of positions. Reference to the sub-principles of width, height and depth are emphasised throughout the sessions. We may use the same exercises as in the beginners’ stage but now we might need to play in tighter areas so to raise the bar of our players to perform more soccer actions per minute (Verheijen, 2014) and increase their ability to perceive the right stimuli, select and execute well-timed soccer actions.
The advanced stage.
In the advanced stage we continue working on perceiving the right stimuli and execute correctly timed soccer actions but with reference to the positions the players play and the typical situations the players find themselves in during a match. For advanced players training within a 4v4 setup, increasing their technical and tactical competence is not the ultimate aim. This is where we differ from the two previous stages. In the advanced stage, we supplement the work done in training to help our team’s global performance in the 11v11 match. As a training methodology we will use the tactical periodization. From session number 20 onwards all the presented practices are referred to this method. In these sessions we will not show the whole session but the 4v4 part used to develop sectorial or inter-sectorial team behaviour. Therefore, we will only go into the detail of the 4v4 game and its related practice.
Session number: 1.
Moment of the game: In possession.
Team task: Build-up.
Aim: Apply correct passing within a diamond formation.
Technical-tactical outcomes:
1. Players on different lines.
2. Open body stance with a view of the ball and the situation.
3. Move towards an open passing lane.
4. Pass to back foot.
5. Direction oriented first touch.
Duration of session: 75 minutes.
Number of players: 10 to 12 players.
Equipment:
Balls (at least four).
Mini goals (four).
Bibs (one set of four bibs).
Markers (to mark areas and positions).
Session plan:
Movement preparation: 15 minutes.
Passing practice 1 – Anti/clockwise passing within a diamond formation: 10 minutes.
Passing practice 2: Dribbling and passing combined: 10 minutes.
Passing practice 3: Rondo 4v1: 10 minutes.
Game: 4v4 on four goals: 30 minutes.
Movement preparation and coordination.
1. Ball mastery interspersed with dynamic flexibility – 10 minutes.
2. Relay races with the ball – 5 minutes.
Passing practice 1 – Anti/clockwise passing within a diamond formation.
Remind players to focus on: 1) adapt an open body stance to receive the ball and 2) pass towards the back foot.
Area: Diamond setup where all sides measure 10 yards.
Players: Five players in total. Have a player at each marker.
Duration: 10 minutes.
Description: Players pass to the player to their right and follow their pass.
Progressions:
1. Players pass to their right but move to the next position to their left.
2. Same as the previous exercise but players pass anti-clockwise.
3. The player on the ball may decide to pass to either the player to his right or to his left.
Passing practice 2: Dribbling and passing combined.
Remind players to focus on: 1) adapt an open body stance to receive the ball, 2) pass toward the back foot and 3) be alert on the balls of their feet.
Area: Diamond setup where all sides measure 10 yards.
Players: Five players in total. Have a player at each marker.
Duration: 10 minutes.
Description: Players may either dribble to the next position to their right or pass the ball. If a dribble takes place all the other players must move accordingly to create the space for the dribbler and keep the diamond shape intact. In the example above player 1 has decided to dribble the ball to player 2’s position. All other players move one position to their right. Player 1 then passes the ball to player 2 at their new positions.
Progressions:
When dribbling, the player with the ball may decide to change direction and return to his original position. All other players must respond accordingly and return to their positions to maintain the shape of the diamond.
Passing practice 3: Rondo 4v1.
Remind players to focus on: 1) players positioned on different lines, 2) moving towards an open passing lane, and 3) open body stance to receive the ball.
Area: 12 yards in length by 10 yards in width.
Players: Four attackers and a defender.
Duration: 10 minutes.
Workload: 2 sets x 6 reps x 30 seconds with 30 seconds rest in between reps and a minute rest between sets.
Description: Attackers aim to keep possession of the ball while contrasted by the defenders. If the defender wins the ball he attempts to dribble it outside the area to score a point. The defender is rotated after each repetition.
Variations:
For beginners we might need to increase the area. On the other hand if this exercise becomes too easy for the attackers we need to reduce the area of play to approximately 10 yards by 8 yards.
Game: 4v4 on four goals.
Remind players to focus on: 1) players positioned on different lines, 2) moving towards an open passing lane, and 3) open body stance to receive the ball.
Area: 40 yards in length by 30 yards in width with two mini goals positioned at each end.
Players: Four players each team.
Duration: 30 minutes.
Workload: 4 x 6 minutes with 2 minutes rest between series.
Description: Both teams attack two mini goals and defend the opposite two. Encourage the players of the team in possession to open up and create the necessary space to retain the ball or to play in verticality.
Variations:
If this game becomes too difficult for the players to handle, it might be better to lower the level of play and introduce the constraint described in the exercise of the next page. This should allow for a better understanding of space and makes it easier for the players to retain the ball within a better constructed team shape.
Variation: 3v2 in each zone.
Description: The team in possession always have an extra player inside the ball zone, thus we have a 3v2 overload. The pitch is separated between the low zone and the high zone. The defending team has two players in each of the two zones, while the attacking team always has three players inside the zone where the ball is.
Session number: 2.
Moment of the game: In possession.
Team task: Build-up.
Aim: Apply correct passing within a diamond formation.
Technical-tactical outcomes:
1. Players on different lines.
2. Open body stance with a view of the ball and the situation.
3. Receiver to be light on balls of feet.
4. Direction oriented first touch.
5. Move towards an open passing lane.
6. Pass aimed towards the back foot.
Duration of session: 75 minutes.
Number of players: 10 to 12 players.
Equipment:
Balls (at least four).
Mini goals (four).
Bibs (one set of four bibs and another two of a different colour).
Markers (to mark areas and positions).
Session plan:
Movement preparation and coordination: 15 minutes.
Passing practice 1 – Combination through the central square: 10 minutes.
Passing practice 2 – 3v1 in the first zone then combine to score: 10 minutes.
Passing practice 3: 3v1 in both zones: 10 minutes.
Game – 4v4 and GKs plus two neutrals in four quadrants: 30 minutes.
Movement preparation and coordination.
1. Footwork using the agility ladder – 10 minutes.
2. Dynamic flexibility – 5 minutes.
Passing practice 1 – Combination through the central square.
Remind players to focus on: 1) adapt an open body stance to receive the ball and 2) direct the ball towards the next pass or dribble.
Area: Have two setups of a diamond where all sides measure 10 yards and a central square with sides measuring 2 yards.
Players: Five players in total. Have a player positioned at each marker.
Duration: 10 minutes.
Description: Player 1 passes to player 2 in the square. Player 2 receives inside the square and passes to player 4. Player 4 dribbles the ball to start position. After passing, the players move one position to their right as shown in the above diagram.
Variation: Player 1 passes to player 3, who lays the ball to player 2 to pass to player 4.
Passing practice 2 – 3v1 in the first zone then combine to score.
Remind players to focus on: 1) having players on different lines (angles) and 2) receiving the ball using an open body stance.
Area: 20 yards in length by 10 yards in width divided into two equal horizontal zones. A mini goal is positioned on the opposite end line.
Players: Three attackers start in the low zone and another in the high zone. The defender is situated in the low zone.
Duration: 10 minutes.
Description: The attacker in the middle initiates play by either dribbling or passing to another attacker. The attackers aim to get past the defender and into the high zone to combine with the attacker inside this zone prior to finish on goal. The defender is restricted to remain inside the low zone. Change the defender every three repetitions.
Variation: The defender is allowed to track back into the high zone to defend.
Passing practice 3 – 3v1 in both zones.
Remind players to focus on: 1) having players on different lines (angles) and 2) receiving the ball using an open body stance.
Area: 20 yards in length by 10 yards in width divided into two equal zones. A mini goal is positioned on the opposite end line.
Players: Three attackers start in the low zone and another in the high zone. A defender is positioned in both zones.
Duration: 10 minutes.
Description: The attacker in the middle initiates play by either dribbling or passing to another attacker. The attackers aim to get past the defender and into the other zone to again play a 3v1 against the other defender with the aim of getting past him and score in the mini goal.
Variation: Defenders must score within a pre-allotted time frame.
Game – 4v4 and GKs plus two neutrals in four quadrants.
Remind players to focus on: 1) having players on different lines (angles) and 2) moving towards open passing lanes.
Area: 40 yards in length by 30 yards in width divided into four equal quadrants. A regular goal is positioned at each end of the grid.
Players: Each team composed of four players and a goalkeeper. Two other players act as neutrals and play for the team in possession.
Duration: 30 minutes.
Workload: 4 x 6 minutes with 2 minutes rest between series.
Description: The players in each team must remain inside their assigned zones. The neutral players may move freely between zones thus creating a 2v1 situation. Inside each team’s defensive half the goalkeeper may also be used to create further numerical overload.
Variation: If after passing the ball through three zones a goal is scored, it counts double. We introduce this variation so that the players develop a habit of looking for the space to receive the ball and to also create overloads (with the use of the neutral players) that give the team in possession more options to play.
Session number: 3.
Moment of the game: In possession.
Team task: Scoring.
Aim: Finish at goal after a combination.
Technical-tactical outcomes:
1. Players on different lines.
2. Counter movement to receive the ball in the space created (move back then explode into the space created to receive the ball).
3. Quality of passes.
4. Direction oriented first touch.
5. Keep the shot low and aim at the least protected bottom corner of the goal.
Duration of session: 80 minutes.
Number of players: 10 to 12 players.
Equipment:
Balls (at least four).
Bibs (one set of four bibs and another two of a different colour).
Markers (to mark zones and positions).
Session plan:
Movement preparation and coordination: 20 minutes.
Passing combination practice – Combination in a diamond to finish at goal: 15 minutes.
Game 1 – 4v4+GKs and two neutral players in zones: 14 minutes.
Game 2 – 4v4+GKs and two neutral players in zones (2): 30 minutes.
Movement preparation and coordination.
1. Short passing combinations – 10 minutes.
2. Dynamic flexibility and short sprints– 10 minutes.
Passing combination practice – Combination in a diamond to finish at goal.
Remind players to focus on: performing the counter-movement to create space to receive the ball.
Area: 40 yards in length by 30 yards in width.
Players: Players set in a diamond and positioned at positions 1, 2, 3 and 4. Have two players at each marker (not shown in the image for the purpose of maintaining clarity) and a goalkeeper in goal.
Duration: 15 minutes.
Description: Player 1 passes to player 3, who lays the ball to player 2 to pass diagonally to player 4 to finish at goal. Players initiate the counter-movement as the passer is about to receive the ball. After passing, the players move one position in sequential order.
Game 1 – 4v4+GKs and two neutral players in zones (1).
Remind players to focus on: 1) creating a passing angle and 2) receiving the ball using an open body stance.
Area: 40 yards in length x 30 yards in width divided into thirds with the midfield third divided equally into two vertical zones.
Players: Each team composed of four outfield players and a goalkeeper. Two neutral players play with the team in possession. Each team has a goalkeeper and a defender in the defending third, two midfielders in the midfield third (one in each zone), and an attacker in the attacking third. A neutral player is positioned in each zone of the midfield third.
Duration: 14 minutes.
Workload: 2 x 6 minutes with 2 minutes rest in between series.
Description: Restarts always take place from the goalkeeper of the team in possession. Players are restricted to remain inside their assigned zone. The ball must progress through the thirds. Once the ball is played in the attacking third another attacker from the midfield zone may join in to make the situation 2v1 against the defender and the goalkeeper. The ball doesn’t have to be passed. The player with the ball can dribble into the attacking third.
Game 2 – 4v4+GKs and two neutral players in zones (2).
Remind players to focus on: 1) creating a passing angle and 2) receiving the ball using an open body stance.
Area: 40 yards in length by 30 yards in width divided into thirds.
Players: Each team has a goalkeeper and a defender in the defending third, two midfielders in the midfield third, and an attacker in the attacking third. The two neutral players are positioned inside the midfield third.
Duration: 30 minutes.
Workload: 4 x 6 minutes with 2 minutes rest between series.
Description: Same as the game before but now in midfield we have only a single zone. Therefore we have a 4v2 situation in favour of the attacking team. To emphasise on shape have the neutral players play as lateral midfielders while the other two midfielders create the necessary angles with them. Play two series of this version and then play a free game of 4v4 without zones. Rotate the extra players with ones that are playing every two minutes.
