Attacking transitions

This session will emphasise winning balls from pressing situations and looking to play the first pass forward to initiate our attacking transition. When winning balls, we want to play forward immediately and be ready to sprint to goal with all 11 players. We teach the players to identify what the next best options are, and how to be aligned with the concepts and ideas of how to create advantages, shots and goals.

These types of sessions are usually fun because they are dynamic, fast, and involve scoring and defending big transition moments. Fifty-four per cent of goals in the modern game are scored in transition, so we will usually run some form of transition training at least once per week. It also encourages the physical loading elements of high intensity running and max speed training. Transition sessions are usually our most intense sessions of the week. Overall, they would last around one hour and 20 minutes, and include a lot of high intensity running and top speed.

This session includes four activities. We always try to include some type of rondo session in our training. We really feel that it sets the tone for the type of intensity we like to have. Next, our major emphasis in these sessions in playing at high speeds: sprinting, vertical, aggressive, and then technically being able to play with quality to create big advantages, chances, and goals.

RONDO

We set up in an area allowing for two boxes of 10yds x 12yds, with a 16yd gap between them. We play this rondo with a two-touch restriction. The first ball is played from the centre coach. It creates a 6v3 in the rondo. After eight passes, the blues (the team of six) try to play a ball on the ground to the other grid.

If successful, they receive one point. This also initiates the resting three players at the poles in the middle to sprint and attack the other grid. The reds (the team of three) are attempting to win the ball. 

If they just clear one ball, the coach on the end introduces another: thus they have to clear two balls. If they win the ball and are able to play the ball back to the other grid, they receive a point and three of the six must sprint to defend in the other group. 

We run each instance 90secs maximum, and then switch the rotation and play again, accumulating points. We run between four and six rounds depending on the loading we want.

[1a]

1. First ball played from centre coach

2. Blues look to play eight passes
3. Reds pressing

[1b]

1. After blues complete eight passes, they look to pass into other box

2. If pass is successful, resting reds sprint into box to become defending team against yellows, seeking to play ball back into first box

3. If reds only clear the ball, coach plays in a second ball

TRANSITION NUMBERS GAME

We set up on a three-quarter pitch. This is an exercise where we create big transition movements. A coach plays the ball. We have three lines of attackers (red) and one group of defenders (blue). The defenders wait until the ball is played and then they run out to defend. The coach yells out two numbers as they kick the ball to the reds.

The first number is the amount of defenders and the second number is the amount of attacker. So “1-2” is a 2v1, “2-3” is a 3v2, and so on. We usually mix up 1v1s, 2v1s, 3v2s, 2v2s, 4v2s, and we have the players set a goal for a competition, handing out rewards and forfeits (push-ups, sprints) accordingly. 

For the attackers we emphasise sprinting hard, playing the ball early, and seeking out a 2v1 option; also, that the attackers sprint all the way through the goal, and we really encourage the last pass to be across the goal for a tap-in.

For defenders, we emphasise closing the space and attacking the ball, not allowing the player on the ball time and space to dictate where they want to play, and aggressive forward defending at the correct moments.

We run this for 20 minutes in total, usually with 15-20 reps from one side, then switch a few players and 15-20 reps from the other.

[2a]

1. Coach plays ball to reds

2. Coach calls out two numbers – first number is the number of defenders who join, second number is the number of attackers

[2b]

1. Defender(s) look to close the space

2. Attackers sprint hard and look to play the ball early

COUNTER-RONDO

We set up on a three-quarter pitch. It starts as a 4v2 to 6v4 rondo. The blue four get the ball and the two reds in the middle try to knock it out. Once the ball is cleared from the small grid in the middle, any of the six reds are encouraged to play a diagonal pass forward which initiates a transition 5v3 to goal. Two reds and one blue join in the transition. We like these actions to be at 100% speed and finish with shots and goals. Offside is applied. After one intense action, we recover back slowly and start the next action.

It is helpful to have players ready to take new positions because the actions are intense. 

Sometimes we introduce a full back on the weak side and create a 6v4 to emphasise the full back joining in with pace. The goal can also be placed on the end line. Emphasise top speeds, quality actions, and the final pass across the goal.

We would run this for around 20 minutes. We would typically do 10-15 reps from one side and then switch to the other side for 10-15 reps. 

[3a]

1. Blue four receive the ball from coach

2. Reds press and try to knock ball out

[3b]

1. Reds clear ball from small area

2. Reds attempt diagonal pass

3. Turns into 5v3 transition with two reds and one blue from the boxed area joining in

4. Reds look to shoot and score

5. Coach at the side looks out for offside

BIG GOALS

We set up on a three-quarter pitch for what is an 8v8+2+2 wide transition game, using two neutral players who support the team in possession. This is a relatively normal game with offside at midfield, and no touch restriction. The biggest rule here is that if you play with the player on the wing in the space, they must play with two touches and their pass must be played into the final zone, or 18-yard box. This means if you play with them, the players on the pitch must sprint into the box to receive the pass or cross, and the defenders must sprint to defend.

You can give double points for a goal from wide or for the final pass leading to a tap-in goal, and for balls won in the attacking half that lead to a goal, to encourage good pressing, playing first pass forward, and sprinting to attack and score.

We would run this for around 30 minutes: initially for 10 minutes, usually five segments of two minutes each, and then rotate the outer players.

[4]

1. Reds clear ball from small area

2. Reds attempt diagonal pass

3. Turns into 5v3 transition with two reds and one blue from the boxed area joining in

4. Reds look to shoot and score

5. Coach at the side looks out for offside

COACHING POINTS

What are the key things to look out for technically and tactically?

We really try to encourage the players to execute these moments at 100 per cent speed and intensity: full sprints in big moments and real speed actions that test the players to create big advantages. However, we want them to slow down in their minds and execute with an element of composure, but never losing the physical speed that the game requires. We say things like “play fast, but don’t rush” and “100 to 70” to help them slow themselves down.

What are the typical mistakes that players might make, and how do I avoid them?

The typical mistakes are to go so fast in actions that they lose quality, or to slow down the tempo too much, allowing the defenders to recover. Getting this balance right is the key.