Defensive Line and Midfield
The fact of facing offensive freedom (continuous decision making) to two defensive lines will develop multiple defensive tactical concepts
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.
Attacking Choice: on the sides or from within
The choice between keeping the ball or switching the play together with a change of pace to progress through the opponent half will make your players smarter when it comes to tactics.
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.
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.
Movable Rondo
Regular tactical rondos have plenty of small and quick decisions but do not have any movement. If, to a regular tactical rondo we include the possibility/need for deciding whether the player has to or does not have to move, it will make our players achieve a higher level at decision making, since they will be considering teammates, rivals, the ball and the free spaces.
Extreme Transitions 2v2
To attack bearing in mind that we have to be ready to defend is one of the most difficult things to put in your players’ mind. If we do not practice it, they will not internalize it.
Rondo + Transition to goals
A drill composed of a tactical rondo and transitions. Your players will ask you for repeating it because they will enjoy it a lot.
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: 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.