Win the ball and break

This session is about winning the ball back and breaking quickly to score – it’s based in the middle third of the pitch but the skills learned are fundamental to each third. The session’s main focus is actually on defending to win the ball back but the attackers could be coached on the counter-attacking elements of the practice by another coach if the session is able to be dual-coached.

I have adapted this session from one I saw Don Howe demonstrate years ago. I love it because it makes individual and team skills very clear to the players and provides a lot of repetition in a variety of scenarios. The session design and its progressions help players learn the concepts for individual and team tactics in a step-by-step manner. It is physically demanding, specific to their positions, and they will become absorbed in the competitive match-like atmosphere of the session.

Working in YDP/PDP this is a core practice that I would use to establish understanding. I would use it to set standards in pre-season training that I would refer back to in every subsequent game and session. I would continually re-visit it as a revision session throughout the season.

As a first team coach it’s an ideal session to establish the fundamental skills and player connections that are then adapted to different opposition formations and pressing patterns.

As a youth coach it would be one of my main physical sessions but it can also be used as a shorter sharp session.

 

“I love this session because it makes individual and team skills very clear to the players and provides a lot of repetition in a variety of scenarios”

8v8 GAME

We set up a 44-yard wide playing area between the two penalty spots of a pitch and we position a full size goal and a goalkeeper at each end. An 18-yard box is marked in front of each goal as part of a 33-yard end zone and a 20-yard central zone is marked in the middle of the playing area.

We’re using 14 outfield players split into two teams of eight including keepers – each team has two defenders, three midfielders and two strikers. All players remain in their starting zones (we allow play to flow freely if they drift marginally into another zone, they are mainly just a guide to create the right match scenarios). Offsides, throw-ins and goal kicks apply but there are no corners, instead, the team in possession starts again from their keeper.

The blue keeper starts by passing out to a defender. The opposition strikers don’t defend or press high, but they come alive when their team regains possession – this guarantees the repetition of individual duels where players can learn to defend against opponents receiving the ball or when attacking in possession.

The possession team tries to work the ball through the zones to create a scoring opportunity for the strikers, who aim to go 2v2 against the opposition defenders in the end zone, as shown [1a].

[1a]

1. The blue goalkeeper starts play by passing short to a defender
2. The opposition strikers don’t press high. They only come alive when their team regains possession and counter-attacks
3. The possession team tries to work the ball through the zones via the players in the midfield zone. This gives the opportunity to coach 1v1 defending in midfield
4. The blues go 2v2 against the red defenders in the end zone to create a goal scoring opportunity for the blue strikers
5. If the red defenders win possession, they should launch a counter-attack

This practice is aimed at showing players the importance of 1v1, 2v2 and 3v3 defending in midfield and the positioning of the defenders behind. If the red defenders win possession they should launch a counter-attack.

To progress the practice, when their team is out of possession and the opposition are playing out from the back, we allow the strikers to defend on the line into the middle zone, but they are not allowed to press the defenders – instead they aim to cut off the passing options as opposition defenders try to play the ball into midfield, as shown [1b]

[1b]

1. In this progression, the opposition strikers can defend on the line into the middle zone, but not press the defenders
2. The red goalkeeper restarts play by passing the ball out to a red defender
3. The blue strikers cut off the passing options as the red defender aims to play the ball into midfield
4. The three blue midfielders are tight to the reds, cutting off passing lanes and covering each other

We want to give the strikers the idea of forcing play while also ensuring the midfield players still get practice reading passes into midfield and defending 1v1 in the middle zone.

If the possession team manages to pass the ball through the middle zone, one midfield player is now allowed to break into the attacking end zone but only after the ball has been played to a forward to make a 3v2 overload in the end zone. However, when the attack is dead the midfielder has five seconds to recover back into position before play restarts.

To progress the practice further, we next allow passes to be made from the goalkeeper and defenders directly to the forwards, as shown [1c].

[1c]

1. In this progression, the keeper and the defenders can now pass directly to the forwards
2. The midfielders now have more jobs to do, including marking, blocking passing lanes, recovering to back tackle and stealing from the front
3. The blue defender plays a long ball to a blue striker and the red midfielder presses from behind to help defend

As an additional progression, we allow the midfield players on the out-of-possession team to recover between five and ten yards into the defensive zone once the opposition forwards have the ball. Similarly the strikers can recover between five and ten yards into the midfield zone if the opposition midfielders have the ball, as shown [1d].

[1d]

1. In this progression, the midfield players are allowed to recover up to ten yards into the defensive zone once the opposition forwards have the ball
2. The blue team works the ball from the goalkeeper to their strikers
3. Here a red midfielder recovers into the defensive zone to back tackle and wins the ball

As a final progression we encourage the goalkeepers to vary their distribution by playing some long balls in the air to the strikers, as shown [1e].

[1e]

1. In this progression, the goalkeeper can launch attacks by playing long balls in the air
2. Here the red goalkeeper starts with the ball, playing it in the air to the red striker
3. The red striker receives the long ball from the keeper and tries to pass it back to a supporting team mate but is pressed by the blue midfielder who wins possession and can now launch a break

This will allow the forwards of the possession team to practise competing with the defenders. It will also help the midfield players to read knock downs and flick-ons from their opponents.

To ensure the intensity of the session is high, it’s important that we work in short blocks of around five minutes, depending on fatigue levels. We would run up to 10 blocks with one minute’s rest between each block.

Common but correctable defending errors made by players in this session include approaching an opponent too fast to defend and being beaten by the opponent’s first touch; not getting close enough to pounce and block forward passes, shots or crosses; players not using their body and failing to step into their opponent’s space; and following the ball and not the player.

Another error players make is the failure to focus. Players can lose concentration, especially after making a mistake, turning one mistake into two. I like the way Mauricio Pochettino put it: “What’s the most important moment in football? The next one!”

 

“We now allow the midfield players to recover between five and ten yards into the defensive zone once the opposition forwards have the ball”

 

Players must stay focused for that moment.

COACHING POINTS

What are the key things to look out for?

As this session is focused on the defensive act of winning the ball back, the conditions imposed early in the session are aimed at creating as many 1v1, 2v2 and 3v3 duels for the midfielders and defenders as possible. That’s why forwards are initially restricted in their defending. As the session progresses, more defending skills are needed…

Defending against the ball: Things we want to see include defending players trying to intercept the ball by scanning ahead to read the body language and tendencies of the opposing passers. If they can’t intercept the ball, they should “spoil” an opposition move by getting a toe in to disrupt the receiver and either play the ball to a team mate or create loose possession.

We want to see players stealing the ball off a poor first touch, using “position before possession” by stepping across an opponent into their space and getting their body between the ball and opponent.

Defending players should also look to stop their opponent from turning but they shouldn’t get so close that they can’t see both the opponent and the ball – we want players to be clever and not “touch tight” all the time, stepping back half a yard so opponents don’t know where they are.

Defending players should stop opponents playing forward by jockeying and getting within “fighting distance”. They should show opponents one way but be ready to step into their space and nick the ball.

We want to see defenders staying with the runner. If an opponent runs inside with the ball, defending players should match the run, getting hip-to-hip and arm-to-arm with their opponents, making it as uncomfortable as possible. Furthermore, they should block the forward pass by getting a shoulder in front or by getting a leg across their opponent.

Defending away from the ball: The players have to adjust to doing more than one marking job when off the ball. They should block passing lanes to the opposing forwards and they also need to mark their direct opponent, generally ball side or goal side, but sometimes to the side or in front. They should know when to cover a team mate and they should be ready to jump and press. We also want to see players back tackling – coming from an opponent’s blindside to dispossess and pickpocket them.

Defending players should be constantly looking ahead to see the spaces around their forwards so they can intercept and pass the ball in one movement or break immediately forward with it.