Practice 2: Advancing the play

WHY USE IT

This transfer game improves players’ ability to keep possession under pressure, switching play between the opposition when the time is right.

Set-up

Mark out an area relative to the age, ability and number of players. Divide it into thirds, with a smaller central area. Split the players into three teams, one per zone.

HOW TO play

The coach serves a ball to one of the end teams. Three players can press from the middle. After five passes, the possession team can transfer the ball across to the other end team. 

If, at any point, the pressers win the ball or the ball goes out of play, the team that lost the ball quickly transition and become the defenders.

progressions & ADAPTATIONS

Central players can intercept passes played through to increase the level of difficulty. A player from the opposite end can drop into the middle third to receive, if the time is right to do so. Instead of passing through after five passes, the possession team can step into the central zone and play through from there.

COACHING POINTS

• Keeping possession under pressure, finding angles and rotations to play through the press.
• Play quick, short passes to draw the opposition in, followed by longer passes to find free players who can play forward.
• Use disguise on the passes that transfer possession to the other side, to play in between the three resting defenders centrally.
• Challenge the players on game realism and use appropriate organisation of players, e.g. playing out from the back with a back four and two midfielders.