By Sean Pearson
Area Size: 30 x 34 yards
Teams: 5 v 5 +1
Time: 20 Minutes
Objectives:
- To maintain possession
- To transition quickly
This possession focuses on the transition of your players from being condensed when defending to open when in possession and the reverse. You can choose to focus on one specific transition or both. I have used 3 neutrals in the middle because most teams either play 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, therefore with 3 central midfielders. The aim is simple, for your team to understand where, when and how to move to the outside of the area from being the defending team, compact in the middle.
The team in possession is the team on the outside, this is to replicate making the field as big and wide as possible to move the ball either through the middle, round the edge or across the area by going over. There are no restrictions on who players can pass to and defenders are allowed to pressure the outside players and steal the ball from them.
When the defending team win possession, both teams quickly transition so the team in possession is again the team on the outside of the area with 3 midfield players in the middle. It is important to keep possession while transitioning and not disregard this aspect when focusing on the change from defense to offense.
To keep game realism, if space opens up near a player, they can enter the middle of the area with the ball to either commit or pull defenders out of position to then pass the ball to teammates who are behind them to penetrate through the lines.
Coaching Points
- When in possession maintain width and depth by positioning themselves outside the area
- Transition quickly
Variations
- Allow outside players to overlap
- Restrict touches of certain players
By Sean Pearson. Sean is also the author Coaching Team Shape in the 3-3-1, Coaching Team Shape in the 4-2-3-1 and Coaching Team Shape in the 4-3-3
