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.
Single Touch Finishing
One of the most important things when making a run to lose the defender and finishing is the right moment for making the run. With a simple rule, you will make your offensive players identify that moment in a drill which recreates a real situation.
Double Rondo
In this drill you will work on the change of pace, on passing the ball to attract de rivals and switching the play to the deliberated side and on choosing which the best moment for intercepting the ball is. All of these in a rondo that you can implement in U10 groups and older.
Conditioned Game: High Pressure and Pressure after losing possession Vs Dropping back and Counterattack
To learn how to defend with high pressure and, in the following play, to defend back in shape gives your team a lot of resources that you will need in different moments of the game
Offensive transition to a different zone (than recovery zone)
The football coaches usually ask their players to play easy and safe once they win the ball back. For doing this, it is key to put the ball away from the zone where to win the ball back
To accelerate or to delay the game, to dominate the change of pace of the game.
To control the game pace we need the players to dominate the offensive tactical principals of delaying, change of pace etc.
Conditioned Game: Offensive Transition and Stretching
When in an offensive transition, whether to progress quickly or to look for support to start a combinative attack is an important choice that has to be practiced.
Double Box: Tactical Balance
If your team, while it is attacking, keeps a balanced structure, it will be ready to defend rapidly in an appropriate way when losing the ball. It will make your players be better at finishing, at pressing after losing the ball, in the counter attack, in the previous moves to the ball loss etc.
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.
Numerical Superiority/Inferiority (4vs3, 3vs2, 2vs1,…)
To identify superiority and inferiority for a right and quick decision making both offensively and defensively is a really fun drill for all ages.