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Numbers up
The session is called ‘Numbers up’ and is a two-part practice that mainly focuses on attacking principles of play. After an unopposed strike at goal, the session develops in number and builds up to a 2v2 small-sided game. The practice involves my D.O.T approach: D – direction, O – opposition, T – transition.
The session is called ‘Numbers up’ and is a two-part practice that mainly focuses on attacking principles of play. After an unopposed strike at goal, the session develops in number and builds up to a 2v2 small-sided game. The practice involves my D.O.T approach: D – direction, O – opposition, T – transition.
This session includes a lot of the important elements that I believe should form part of an exciting and fun practice. Providing players with opportunities to finish and work on their ball striking, as well allowing the goalkeeper(s) plenty of specific football action repetition as well, in terms of shot-stopping and distribution. The game format evolves throughout the practice but remains small enough to ensure players get plenty of opportunities to complete a variety of different football actions. I’ve delivered this session to groups from under-8s upwards. The focus should relate to the age and stage of the players, but the basic premise and session design works really well across all age groups. Coaches will also need to consider the area and goal size with regard to the specific group they’re working with.
I believe young players should feel comfortable and confident to express themselves in fun, challenging and competitive learning environments. I enjoy coaching and developing players to be innovative and creative in possession, play with pace and dynamism as well as understand and appreciate the hard work associated with being part of a collective team effort.
This is a practice that is simple to set up, and players love as it flows well within each four-minute block. It’s competitive, game-related and allows a variety of themes to be focused on (eg attacking outnumbered, defending outnumbered, passing etc). As there’s a winning team at the end of each round, players enjoy the social and psychological elements as well and always ask, “Can we play one more round?”
The session works best with smaller numbers to avoid too many players being inactive (even though the transitional element allows for brief rest before being entering the game). It is a physically demanding practice so works well at the end of a session as a “finisher” but equally well as an individual development plan session with players having specific objectives to work towards (eg focus on ball striking, defensive actions such as tackling and intercepting, or attacking actions including 1v1 dribbling and movement off the ball).
| Area |
Dependent on numbers and age group |
| Equipment |
Mini goals, full size goal |
| No. of Players |
Minimum 4 + goalkeepers |
| Session Time |
At coach’s discretion |
NUMBERS UP
We set up in a rectangular space appropriate to the group you are working with, with a mini goal at each end, and a full size goal on the side at the halfway line. We begin with the coach playing the ball to the red player for a shot at goal, defended by the neutral goalkeeper [1a]. The red player then defends 1v1 against the blue, and both try to score in either of the mini goals [1b].
When the ball goes out of play (or a goal is scored), the next red enters to play 2v1, dribbling in from beside the goal [1c]; when the ball goes out of play (or a goal is scored) the next time, then the next blue does the same, creating a 2v2 [1d].
Keep score; goals scored past the goalkeeper count as well. Swap teams after each round.
We run each rep for four minutes.
The game can extend further to build into a 3v2 and finally a 3v3 to work on more specific and game-related principles (eg attacking with two support players and focus on combinations in triangles, and defensive principles of pressure, support and cover). The goalkeeper can also be included following the initial shot to become a neutral player, where they stay near their goal but support whichever team is in possession to develop their footwork, receiving and passing.
[1a]
-
We begin with the coach playing the ball to the red player
-
Red player takes shot at goal, defended by the neutral goalkeeper
[1b]
-
Red player then defends 1v1 against the blue player
-
Both try to score in either of the mini goals
[1c]
-
When goal is scored or ball goes out of play, second red joins play, dribbling ball in
-
Reds play 2v1 against blue
[1d]
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When goal is scored or ball goes out of play, second blue joins play, dribbling ball in
-
2v2 ensues
coaching points
What are the key things to look out for?
Players receive positive reinforcement for making effective decisions and having positive intent (even if this means that the execution of the technique is not always successful). This relates to the technical aspects of the session such as the strike at goal and goalkeeper-related shot-stopping actions, as well as the ‘in-game’ aspects such as ball speed when passing, attacking movement off the ball and intelligent and aggressive defending.
What are the typical mistakes players might make and how do I avoid them?
The ever-changing nature in terms of numbers is a challenging aspect of the session. Transitioning from attack to defence quickly means that players need to be focused and attuned with regards to time, space and the location of the ball at every moment. Scanning and awareness are two key areas of the session with players having to identify where pressure is coming from and as the numbers build, where their nearest teammates are.
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