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.
Conditioned Game: Shifting and Intensive Pressing
A good pressing and a defensive balance against the position game (Sarri, Guardiola, Nagelsman), with a rule which will make the offensive players to choose the right position in order to fix the defenders.
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.
Avoid in depth passes + Transitions
To press the player on the ball is a key aspect for having defensive success. If, we add the defensive vigilances, this drill will give your players a lot of defensive tactical concepts. A polarized tactical drill with plenty of offensive and defensive transitions.
Positional Play – Speed of Play
Another offensive tactical drill to improve the position game (Guardiola, Sarri…). To play the ball facing the player who is about to receive it will allow the receiver to think before getting the ball and to speed the play up.
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.
4 Lanes: Create Superiority 6vs6
In a simple structure applicable to any style of play with a line of 4 in defense + 1 midfielder. You will find a lot of key tactical concepts in this drill: Shiftings, coverages, closing interior passes… and, in order to attack, a wide variety of offensive tactical concepts will be needed.
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.
Field with 3 zones: ball circulation + scoring
Both the speed of play and the attraction of the rivals in order to free the farther players are important in order to attack. We will have to do shiftings so the rival has to change its position.
Conditioned Game: Min. 87 1-0
The ideal player is the one who manages either the offensive and defensive tactical situations. The direct attack looking for the second ball Is one of the parts of the game that the coaches need to know how to manage despite it might not be his most preferred part. As coaches, our objective has to be fo our players to learn as much as possible, not just only about what we like.