Description

The Game: 5 red’s are playing vs. 3 white defenders and a goalkeeper, 2 white players are resting.
Note: Resting players should remain deep in their zone “stretching the field”.
Rule: Teams needs 3 passes before they go to goal (this will allow for transition as the game gets going).
In this picture, the goalie is an all-time keeper.
If you have 2 keepers designate one per team. They would play as a field player when their team is in possession.

Transition Phase

Description

When Red either shoots the ball (pictured), white wins the ball, or the keeper makes a save, the ball should be played quickly to the resting players. The White players now “transition” from defending to taking up supporting positions for their two teammates that had been resting. Three Red players must immediately transition to defend.

Final Phase

Description

White is now in possession 5 v3 + keeper. They need three passes before they can go to goal.

Exercise Focus:
Attacking- Quick ball movement, work for a good shot, movement off the ball, balance of team shape.
Defending- Defend in triangles, communication from the goalkeeper, patience (#’s down).
Transition- Offensively- can we support our teammates quickly? Defensively- can we get immediate pressure? Stay organized!

Possible Restrictions

1. 2 touch
2. Unlimited, but one touch to score
3. Resting player must play one touch when initially receiving the ball

If you enjoy this exercise Coach Donahue recommends:

The Set‐up:

The Game: Play two 5 minute periods! In the 1st five minutes, the white team can score by shooting the ball through the triangle (along the ground) or connecting five passes. The red team must defend the triangle and try to score in any four of the counter goals. After 5 minutes the roles reverse.

Restarts: When the ball goes out of bounds, it can be re‐entered by:

• Coach playing a new ball into the field
• Throw‐in
• Pass in
• Dribble in

Focus:

• Keeping possession of the ball
• Penetration
• Movement off the ball
• Communication
• Competitiveness

Variation 1: Have the team defending the triangle nominate a goalkeeper (exercise is 4v3 plus keeper) and allow shots goals to score that are below shoulder height.

Variation 2: (pictured right) Add two neutral players to the game (4v4 plus 2). The neutral players are always on the team that has the ball. This should make it easier for the teams to maintain possession.

Download the exercise: [Triangle Goal with Counter Goals] ]]> https://lexingtonunited.org/4v2-becomes-4v6-u14/ https://lexingtonunited.org/4v2-becomes-4v6-u14/#respond Sat, 12 Feb 2011 21:31:25 +0000 https://lexingtonunited.org/?p=736 ...Read More]]>

The Game: 4 White players play possession vs. 2 Red’s in a 12 x 12 box.  When the Red gain possession of the ball, they immediately play to their teammates on the outer edge (24 x 24 box).

A game of 6 Red vs. 4 White ensues.  When the white win the ball and return to their box, only 2 red defenders can enter it to defend creating the initial 4v2.

The game is continuous and physically demanding.  It should be played for a maximum of 15 minutes.

Focus:

• Keeping Possession
• Crisp Passing
• Team spacing
• Transition

Variations:

• Make the inner box bigger create a 5v3 in the box.
• Restrict touches (2 touches, 1 touch)

If you enjoy this exercise Coach Donahue recommends:

The Set-up: as pictured

The Game: 2 teams of equal numbers play vs. one another on a field approximately half the full field. (you can adjust the space according to your  numbers).

If white scores a goal, they no longer try to attack the oppositions’ goal, instead they try to keep possession of the ball.  The red team now no longer has to worry about defending their goal, instead they pressure the ball all over the field in an attempt to win the ball back and score.  The goalkeeper for Red should now act as an extra field player.  When Red does score to equalize the game, both teams resume playing a normal game to goal.  When one team scores, they keep possession, while the other team hunts to get the ball back and score.

Focus:

• Can we maintain possession “kill off the game” when we have a lead?
• Can we press or “hunt” for the ball in groups to win it back when trailing?

Note: In the picture 2 coaches are positioned in a way that they could call off-sides.  This is a rule that should be enforced, in training, as players get older.

If you enjoy this exercise Coach Donahue recommends:

Set-up: Two teams of six (numbers can vary).  Four players in the middle from each team with two boundary players.  White boundary players are vertical, red horizontal.

The Game: 4 v4 in the middle (could be 3v3 depending on your numbers).  When you play to a boundary player, that player must take a first touch to enter the field.  A teammate has to fill the line the boundary player vacated.   Boundary players are not stationary.  They should be moving along the line to create good passing angles.

You are always 6 v4 whenever your team has the ball.

Focus:

• Keeping possession.
• Can you transfer the ball quickly from one side to the other?
• Can we find the best forward (deeper) option?
• Speed of Play, Movement off the ball!

If you enjoy this exercise Coach Donahue recommends:

Set-up: Two teams of eight players.  Split team up so that it is 4 v4 in the middle, with 4 players on the outside for each team. (as pictured).  If you have teams of 7 play 3v3 in the middle.

The Exercise: The players on the outside are free to move along their line.  When a ball is played to them, their first touch must take them into the playing area and a teammate must fill the line.  Players on the outside are not allowed to defend one another initially (as the players become better at the game you could remove this restriction).  This creates an 8 v 4 superiority for the attacking team.

Focus:

• Keeping possession of the ball.
• Creating good passing angles (don’t hide behind the defender).
• First touch, can you take it in a different direction than it came from?
• You should always be able to play the way you’re facing due to the outside players.

Variations:

• Restrict touches for the players in the middle
• Allow the players on the outside to defend each other. (8v8)

If you enjoy this exercise Coach Donahue recommends:

Set-up:

The Game: Teams play 3 defenders plus a keeper vs. 2 attackers in their defensive half of the field.  Players cannot move from one half of the field to the other.  Coach should rotate the players to the different zones.

Focus:

• Quick ball movement at the back
• Shooting from distance
• Finishing
• Forwards learning to play numbers down (2 vs. 3 plus keeper in attacking half) in both the attacking phase and defensive phase.
• Blocking shots.

Note: Coach should have a supply of balls to keep the game moving.  Also place some additional balls in each goal.

Variation: Allow one of the defenders to enter the attacking half of the field after the ball has been successfully passed into a striker.  This will create a 3 vs. 3 plus keeper in the attacking half.  This player would need to return to his zone once a change of possession occurs.

The Set-up: Field should be 40 yards long x 20 yards wide.

The Game: Two teams of four play against one another with four target players serving as goals.  The target players can move along the end line, they are not stationary.

The objective is to transfer the ball from one half of the field to the other.  Once you’ve crossed the half way line you can score by playing into either set of targets and receiving the ball off of them. This will promote supporting the penetrating pass!  Target players’ should have a maximum of two touches.

Games should be to 5 with the winning team staying on.

Coaching Observations:

• Can we look forward early with a deep pass?
• Do we transition to support?
• Can we move the ball quickly out of the area we won possession?

Variations:

• 5v5 plus 5 (4 targets and 1 neutral player)
• 6v6 plus 6 (4 targets plus 2 supporting flank players)

If you enjoy this exercise Coach Donahue recommends:

The game offers a great opportunity for players to learn how to recognize when to attack quickly, when to build up, and how to defend numbers down. Transition, both offensive and defensive, is constantly present as well.

The Set-up: Two teams of 5 players plus 2 keepers play in an area approximately 40 yards long by 30 yards wide.  The coach can manipulate the dimensions of the field, but when teaching counter-attacking the field should have more length than width.

The red team begins with all 5 players on the field.  White has 3 players on the field with 2 more players on their end line.

The Game: 5 Red’s attacks the 3 whites and try to score a goal.  If the red are successful their goalie should play them a new ball and the game continues 5 red vs. 3 white.  If the white win the ball they have two options.

1. Attack immediately if a goal scoring chance is on, the “Quick Counter”
2. Pass back to a white teammate on the end line.  The 2 white would now join their 3 teammates in the attack while 2 red players’ sprint to their end line (Pictured below)

Note: The coach should observe whether the players are making the correct decisions.  If there is a good opportunity to be successful on the quick counter-attack once you’ve gained possession take the chance attacking numbers down, if not, play back to your teammate and build-up.  Now, possess and wait for a good scoring opportunity to present itself.

The Game now becomes 5 white vs. 3 Red with 2 red’s on their end line.

This is a great game for players U12 and above.  It is continuous and fast paced.  Players are constantly faced with decisions that the “real game” presents.

If you enjoy this exercise Coach Donahue recommends:

The Set-up:

The Game: 5 red players play vs. 5 white players in the central area of the field.  Red has an additional player at the back in the right zone and up front in the left zone.  White has an additional player at the back in the left zone and up front in the right zone.  No player can leave their zone! The game is a normal scrimmage to goal, but should help players recognize free spaces along the flank.

Focus:

• Quick ball movement
• Attacking along the flank
• Serving the Diagonal Ball

Progress to:

The Game: The exercise is the same as before, but now the player in the channel is allowed to enter the field of play.  Note: They don’t have to enter the field and should only do so when it is to their teams’ advantage.  If the player does leave the channel a new player from that team must enter the channel to keep the team balanced. (pictured left)

There is still no defending in the channel

If you enjoy this exercise Coach Donahue recommends: