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.
Offensive transition with the free man.
When we win the ball back when defending a team which presses us after losing the ball, we will need to connect with the free man playing behind the rivals’ back.
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.
Offensive Stretching and Mixed Marking
To bring the ball from one side to other and then cross it, it is an offensive tactical objective. In this drill, with the double of box as the dimensions, we will make our team practice a lot of crossings which will allow them to improve both defense and attack.
Switching the play and changing the pace
The inside-outside alternation in the game is key. With this tactical drill we will first play the ball inside by passing the ball into the middle to then pass the ball outside, attracting the defenders and switch the play finding the free space in the other side.
Conditioned Game: Defending in middle block
For a slow defender, the body orientation when facing a through ball is key in order to beat a faster forward. Your player’s mental quickness when making the right decision about the body shape will them improve against the through balls.
Possession + Finishing
For the team that has won the ball back, is key to give support, to make runs to lose the marker and to look for the free men. For the defenders, the key is to press the player on the ball, to defend the passing lines and to identify the free men.
Double Box: Counterattack with players outside the active zone
To connect with players which are the farthest away possible from the ball is a synonymous of a good counter attack. To prevent your rivals of doing it is a synonymous of a good press after losing the ball and an accurate drop back. In this drill your players will improve both the defensive and the offensive transitions. The dimensions will be the double of the box.
Play pressed and switch zone
To include the goalkeepers in the building drills is key for them to then do it comfortably during the games. In the drill, we will start building the game to then advance in the game overcoming the opposition high press. The defenders practice the high press and to close passing lines.
Dropping Back and Counterattack Vs Offensive Vigilance
The unhooked players are very important players in the offensive and defensive transitions, but, they are even more important in the vigilances previous to those transitions. We should practice how to use them to attack and how to defend them.