By Mike Smith
Ever ask your team, “What exactly are you doing to the other team?”? Meaning, are your possessions, movements and tactics really causing a team to make adjustments to deal with you? Often times the answer is “no”, and for those times, a little more focus on lateral play can be the “yes” which creates more opportunities for success. The following lesson will help your team create and recognize the chances they have to use direct lateral play to off balance their opponent and take advantage of the vulnerable space created when an opponent is forced to try and cover the entire field.
Lesson 1
Open Up Immediately After the Pass
Set-Up
Place a zig zag line of cones across the field at varying widths as shown in the diagram. The number of cone stations should be 2 less than the number of players you have in the exercise. There is one player on each cone, and a short recovery line behind the player starting with the ball. ( This can be done with multiple balls once the players get in a rhythm.) The starting player simply passes to the feet of the player on the next cone and then follows their pass. The players work the ball through the zig zag, following each pass to the next cone.
Coaching Points
The idea is to immediately open the body to where the next pass is coming from AND where the next pass is to be made. Coaches should stress an immediate shift to an open body position. Once all the players are executing the correct body positioning, add another ball or (two) and see how fluid the drill can become.
Lesson 2
Three Goal game
Set-Up
Three teams of 4 play in a 25 x 20 grid. Two teams are inside, one team is outside as a neutral team. There are 3 cone goals on each end of the grid. One neutral is behind each goal line and to score, the team attacking that line must make a pass through one of the cone goals to the neutral. The neutral players on each side line support the team who is in possession. Neutrals can not pass to other neutrals.
Coaching Points
The coach should stress good lateral movement to maintain possession. Players should work together to create and recognize chances to exploit the other team when they get over extended. The coachable moments are endless in this activity .
Lesson 3
6 v 8 to Three Goals
Set-Up
On a half field, place 3 cones goals about 5 to 10 yds off the half line as shown on the diagram. The attacking team places two target players behind the goals. These players may shift and switch to cover all three cone goals. A goal is scored when they receive a pass through a cone goal. 6 additional attackers start play from the keeper, 4 across the top of the 18 and 2 acting as midfielders. The defending team starts with 5 players in the center circle and one target player inside the 18. This player must stay inside the 18. Play starts when the keeper distributes to a wide attacking player.
Coaching Points
As the diagrams show, the idea is to shift and play laterally in a way which supports possession, bunches up or over extends the defense and creates easy chances to move forward and score in open space. The coach should stop play initially to show players who are forcing play or holding the ball too long where they should have looked laterally. Add players to the defending team as needed to create more pressure.
By Mike Smith
Currently the Head Coach for University Heights Academy Boys Soccer in Hopkinsville, KY , Mike is in his 14th year as a high school head coach with 23 years coaching experience overall and 34 year as a student and fan of the game. He holds a USSF D License.
