Four squares possession
To achieve an appropriate players’ distribution in the free spaces, to switch the game successfully, to choose either checking to the ball or checking away… this drill will make you players think and take decisions.
Rondo Offensive Delay 4v1
Since regularly, all the rondos are played in a high pace, is it possible to practice a tactical rondo in which you work both the change of pace and the high and low pace? It is definitely possible if we include a small modification in the structure so our players can make decisions about the pace of the game.
Speed of play and Third Man
If a player, in order to make the right decision during a game, considers where the rivals, the teammates and the ball are and if he either has to move to create a passing line or not, he is definitely improving. Every passing line that he creates it is a third man situation that he also generates.
Supports: Superiority/inferiority
Ball retention, body orientation (One of Guardiola’s biggest obsession) to receive the ball from the exterior neutral player who has advantage through the guided discovery learning method. The defensive anticipations will make the attackers be on the right body shape to retain the ball and switch the play.
Transitions: Narrow down the spaces
The following situations are basic tactical and repeated situations in the game: The team that loses the ball has to close spaces, the team winning the ball back has to start winning width, opening up the field. You can practice this drill continuously.
Movable Rondo
Regular tactical rondos have plenty of small and quick decisions but do not have any movement. If, to a regular tactical rondo we include the possibility/need for deciding whether the player has to or does not have to move, it will make our players achieve a higher level at decision making, since they will be considering teammates, rivals, the ball and the free spaces.
Offensive and Defensive Transition 3 Teams
To practice both the momentum when losing the ball and when winning it back is key. It makes us be better on the offensive and defensive transition. We will use this drill as a tactical situation to activate the defenders’ press after losing the ball and for the team that has just win the ball back to play quick and easy.
Speed of play + getting the ball away of recovery zone
At the beginning of the offensive transitions, just after getting the ball back, we should play quick and simple in order to bring the ball to the empty spaces. In this drill we will be faced to different situations similar to game situations.
Conditioned Game: Gives and Goes and changing pace
To play at a different pace depending on the zone of the field where we are at that moment, is a good way for making right decisions and read the game in a right way.
Extreme Transitions 3v3
To practice transitions in superiority will make your players look for safe finishing situations thoughtlessly and will make them think about the defensive transition. This is a drill that you as a coach will like a lot, a very useful drill.