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.
Small sided game – Third man
Tactical drill oriented to use, when attacking, by the third man and useful to practice the way of defending it.
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.
Transitions with support from forwards players
To start the attack playing wide and to identify when a good moment is to play inside. To make a run in order to lose the markers in the right moment is key to finally get the ball or not.
Speed of Play and Mobility of the players without the ball
In order to help the attack, the free players have to make decisions too in order to situate in the best position. This drill will demand a high concentration level from your players.
4 Squares – Positional Game – 4 Goals
A tactical polarized drill based on the rational occupancy of the field. This is a good introduction to the position game for different playing systems.
Defense in middle block for interior passes
To defend the central lane is key, and, to orientate the rival so he can just play at the side generates an advantage in order to get the ball back.
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.
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.
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.