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.
Zonal Defense: Move forward or backwards
In every movement of the ball we do, the defensive situation changes. Did the ball go forward or backwards? Is the player on the ball pressed? Does he have options to pass the ball to a free player? These are some of the several decisions that we have to practice.
Small Sided Games Pressing the ball the holder
Small sided tactical game in which, in order to score you will first have to create a favorable situation at the same time that, the defenders will have to do defensive presence on the defender.
4 Squares – Positional Game
To occupy the field rationally is one of the main objectives of the coaches at early ages. This is a good introduction to the position game for different playing systems.
Direct Attack: Final Minutes
Maybe your team just uses the direct style of play occasionally (e.g when losing in the last minutes of a game), but it is more than likely that your team will face teams that use it during most of the minutes. To practice it in the same proportion as it is played in your competition is both correct and necessary.
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.
Reducir espacio, jugar a un toque
The creation of triangles and diamonds to attack is an obsession for some coaches (Guardiola, Nagelsmann…), here you can find a partial structure that will help your players to encourage that positioning.
Double Box: Fast Transitions
To be fast but not rushing! This is a provocation rule which will improve the decision making in order to adapt the pace and the game speed.
3v3 Positioned to find in depth passes
A partial structure to practice the defensive shape when facing a through ball. The attacking team will practice when the right moment is to make a run losing the markers.
Offensive Vigilance and Free Man
A dynamic and safe way for attacking is either to find the third man or to be aware of where the defenders are (offensive vigilances). At the same time, you will have to find the appropriate distances so your team not always pass the ball to the closest players but also finds the mid-distance players, with the objective of braking the lines. In this drill, the defensive players practice the moment of activating the pressing in a coordinated way.