Use transitional moments to make your practice sessions as realistic as possible when addressing the attacking phase of the game

In the video clip below  Bobby Muuss, Wake Forest University Head Men’s Soccer Coach; 2016 NCAA College Cup Runner-up, demonstrates two versions of a transitional drill that he uses to help teach his plays to play off of the highest player and attack in transition.

The drill is played on a field 60-70 yds wide and 44 yds wide.

The drill begins 3 v 0 with a target player in the middle of the field. A coach plays a ball to the goalkeeper who quickly plays to the target player.

The 3 players will play off the target player. What coach Muss is looking for is to play off the highest player. He asks the wide guys to open their runs and when the ball is played back he wants to make sure he gets a near a far post runner.

After approximately 2 mins, he will add a second team of 3 to the opposite end. The ball will be played into the target player in the same fashion. As the play begins 3v3 there will be transitional opportunities. When a ball is laid off, the nearest defender must run around a wall player that is in place. This creates a 3v2 scoring opportunity.

This drill sequence is just a sample of the type of coaching material found inside Coach Muuss’instruction DVD entitled Open Practice: Transition – Looking to Play Off Your Highest Player

The YouTube video below has audio, so please make sure that your speakers are on and that you have access to the site. Note that some schools block access to YouTube

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This post was provided by World Class Coaching.

This drill is designed to train players to transition from defense to offense by  teaching them to be compact while defending and spread out quickly when possession is won

 By Sean Pearson

Sean is also the author of the following coaching resources: Coaching Team Shape in the 3-3-1, Coaching Team Shape in the 4-2-3-1 and Coaching Team Shape in the 4-3-3

Area: 36 x 44 yards
Time: 20mins
Players: 8v6+2

Objective:
• To be compact while defending and then quickly spread out when possession is won
• To connect passes in a composed manner in a tight area in front of goal.

Set Up:
The playing area is twice the size of the 18-yard area with the defending team set up in a 4-2-3-1 without the wingers or striker. The attacking team is in a 4-3-3 formation without the defenders. There are two neutrals outside the area.

Execution:
When the attacking team start with the ball all players must stay in the boundaries of the 18-yard area. The defending team stays compact to stop penetration and frustrate the attacking team. When they win the ball, there needs to be instant transition to open up the field. The FB’s are allowed outside the area to stretch the field but no other players are. The CB’s should drop down and out to get into as much space as possible.

It is important that the player that wins the ball, because the team is in the defensive third, is careful with their pass selection.

1) Pass out wide to a FB
2) Pass down to a CB
3) Pass to another player who is open

 

he connection of these passes is critical not just of the first pass but until the team is able to play the ball forward to either the neutrals or up to the level of the neutrals while still in control of the ball. What you are trying to educate the players on is to move instantly for the player on the ball into areas where pressure can be released while remaining composed and not rushing the decision.

Encourage the attacking team to press when they lose the ball to simulate game speed and scenarios. It is then up to the team in possession to maintain their cool and play simple passes to release the pressure from their defensive third.

1) There should always be the option of playing back to the GK and because the FB’s are allowed outside the area the GK can switch the ball to the opposite side. The FB can then dribble up. Make sure the defensive line also pushes up to simulate the game.

2) The player on the ball can either find the neutral on the ground or clip the ball over the top of the pressing attackers.

3) If the pass has not gone to the FB straight away, the FB’s need to understand that they are an outlet and move again to be available for the team to play forward.

Variations:
• Allow all players to move outside of the width of the 18-yard area once the defending team wins possession
• Add the neutrals to the attacking team to play 8v8 and increase the difficulty of playing out
• Vary the formation of both teams and the starting point of where the attacking team starts

Here is a drill that works on possessing the ball and looking for penetration while also including a transitional piece

In the video below Bobby Muuss, Wake Forest University Head Men’s Soccer Coach (2016 NCAA College Cup Runner-up), describes his 5 v 2 Reactions Drill.

Coach Muus explains that this drill can be played on a grid ranging in size from 6×6 to 8×8. Four players are placed outside the grid. A central midfielder is placed and two defenders are placed in the grid. The goal is for the 4 outside players to possess the ball and attempt to play the ball into the central midfielder in an attempt to switch the point of attack. If the defenders gain possession, it is the job of the four outside players and the central midfielder to win the ball back.

The drill is played in one minute intense segments. The goal is to play the ball into the middle and then out to a third player as many times as possible. Coach Muus makes this competitive my setting up two grids and having two teams of five competing. A point is earned each time the ball is played to the middle and out to a third players. He usually plays four 1 minutes segments.

In the first part of the clip below coach diagrams and explains the drill and then in the second part of the clip you get to watch the drill executed in a live practice.

This drill is just a sample from Coach Muus’ coaching DVD. For more information about the DVD click the link Open Practice: Possession for Penetration

The YouTube video has audio, so please make sure that your speakers are turned on and that you have access to the site. Note that some schools block access to YouTube.

This is a great drill to help increase your opportunities to score more goals

In the video clip below Charlie Cooke, Director of Coerver Coaching USA, instructs players on an Opportunism & One Touch drill that is part of his Finishing demonstration. This drill is set up with two groups or teams of players that start on the end line of the grid. There are four small goals set up and located in the middle of the grid that is each facing a different angle. A coach passes a ball anywhere on the field and then yells a number, which is the number of players each team can send in. The first player to the ball gets possession and that team must try to score on any of the small goals with a one touch finish. The group or team defending can steal or win the ball anytime and try to score the same way.

There are several key areas in this drill to focus on with your players:

Movement

Offensive players that don’t have the ball must be constantly moving to try and find open space in the grid. If defenders are playing close and tight, the offensive players need to be making quick runs to either help keep possession or get themselves in a scoring position on the field.

Communication

All players need to be constantly talking and communicating with each other. Offensive players should be talking about where to attack, how much time a teammate has, and where they see opportunities to score. Defensive players must be communicating on how to defend together with closing down the ball, forcing in a certain direction, and situations where they can win the ball back and score.

Combination Play

The offensive players need to be creative when keeping possession and looking for opportunities to score. A quick combination play like a give and go or take-over can catch the defenders off guard and create the space needed to finish.

This clip is just a sample from Coach Cooke’s presentation. For information about how to gain access to the entire presentation, as well as hundreds of others, click the link Glazier Soccer Clinics

This post was provided by World Class Coaching

The objective of this activity is for defenders to shape very quickly to protect the goal as the offense moves the ball from place to place on the field.

By Steven Smith

Steve Smith has been a men’s college coach that holds an NSCAA Advanced National Diploma and a Doctorate in Physical Education.

Area Size: Three cone or mini goals are set up on each end line of a 25 X 35-yard field. Players line up with half on each end line ready to come on as a 3 vs. 3 group to attack or defend.

Teams: Two teams of 9 players each

Time: For full progression approximately 12 minutes

Objective: The objective of this activity is for defenders to shape very quickly to protect the goal as the offense moves the ball from place to place on the field. Coaching feedback should be exclusively given on defensive shape. Verbal cues of TRIANGLE when ball is in the center of the field and ARC when the ball is on the flanks is key to this training activity.

Set up and Execution:
One team serves from the end line and immediately moves out to defend. The other group of three move the ball and attempt to score on any of the three goals at the opposite end line. If a turnover occurs, the serving team attempts to score on their three goals. When the ball goes out of play, reset and start over with a new group. If the ball is served to the central attacker, then the defending group must make a triangle with pressure and cover. If served to the flank attackers, the defenders should defend in an L or arc shape as shown in the diagram.

Variations:
Ball always served from one end and then switch after ten balls.
Can become a transition game when the ball goes over the end line, the attacking team begins to defend the new group coming onto the field from the end line.

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