Four day build up to playing 3-4-3

This session was taken from the four day period between games in our recent international week. In my time as Ghana coach, we have always played with either a 4-2-3-1 formation or a 4-3-3, but after playing our first game of the international week, we had a four day build-up to the second game to prepare to play in a 3-4-3 formation for the first time.

For this session we concentrated on positional play, using our width to play though the thirds, and making forward runs. The final 11v11 game of the session also allowed us to focus on our defensive distances and our pressing.

At international level we don’t have the luxury of time and consistency with the players, so it was important to get as much tactical information to them as possible on the training pitch, so we stopped play whenever necessary to make coaching points.

The practices we used ranged from those tailored for a first day training group of players who hadn’t started in the first game of the week, to practices aimed at match day +2, match day -2, and match day -1. 

“At international level we don’t have the luxury of time with the players so it was important to get as much tactical information to them as possible on the training pitch”

PRACTICE 1

We ran this practice with 10 players who didn’t start the first game of our international week.

We set up a playing area of 35x20 yards including 5-yard end zones at each end. Two teams of five are set up in a 1-3-1 formation and players should be encouraged to stay in shape as much as possible.

Play always starts and restarts from the coach. All players begin in the central area and, in order to score a point, a player must make a run and successfully receive and control the ball in the end zone that they are attacking, as shown [1], but only the centre forward and the central midfielder can score.

[1]

1. The coach starts the game, serving the ball to the red left-sided wide player who passes it back to the central defender
2. The red central defender plays the ball to the other wide player under pressure from the blue central midfielder
3. The receiving wide player on the right passes to the red centre forward, who looks for a runner under pressure from a blue defender
4. The red central midfielder makes a run into the end zone to receive the ball from the centre forward and scores a point for the reds. Only the central midfielder and centre forward are allowed to score

As coaches we would encourage the movement of wide players to receive the ball and we would also look for players to make forward passes and forward runs. As a simple progression, we can change the rules so both wide players can also score.

PRACTICE 2

A progression of the first practice, we ran this activity with the full squad when they were all together. We set up a playing area of 60 yards in length with a 5-yard end zone at each end and we used the full width of the pitch. Offside lines are marked at 15 yards into the pitch.

Two teams of 10 are set up in the central area. The playing principles are the same as before and the game rules are largely normal. We allow throw-ins but no corners. Instead of corners, play restarts from 
the defenders. 

In order to score a point, a player must make a run and receive the ball in the end zone, as shown [2], but only the three forward players and the wing backs can score.

[2]

1. The coach starts the game by serving the ball to the red defender
2. The red team work the ball across the back line to the wide player on the right, who passes to the right-sided attacker
3. The central attacker makes a well-timed run across the offside line to receive the ball in the end zone to score a point for the reds. Only the three forward players and the wing backs can score 

In order to stop teams sitting in a low block to protect the end zone, 12 consecutive passes also result in a point scored.

PRACTICE 3

We ran this practice with the 10 players who didn’t start the first game. We set up on half a pitch with a full size goal and a goalkeeper in their regular positions and with three mini goals at the other end. The playing area is split into three lateral zones and four vertical zones, while the team is set up in an unopposed 3-4-3 formation.

The goalkeeper starts play by passing out to a defender. The defenders must play the ball across the back line to the wing back, while the aim is to work the ball forward through the thirds and score in one of the mini goals, or maybe cross to create a scoring opportunity, as shown [3].

[3]

1. The goalkeeper starts with the ball, playing it to a defender. The defenders must play the ball across the back line to the wing back
2. The right attacker makes a run to receive the ball from the wing back
3. The central attacker makes a run to get on the end of a cross from the right attacker
4. The left attacker and the central midfielder make runs to support the attack

Players should be looking to receive on the half turn and play forwards whenever possible. We’re also looking for movement between the zones from our inverted wide players.

We continue to develop the themes shown in this practice with three other drills that we run on the next day of training.

PRACTICE 4

We next run a series of patterns of play, incorporating what the players learnt in the session so far. We set up on a full pitch with a full size goal in its regular position at one end. We ran this unopposed practice with 20 players, doubling up in each position and set up in a 3-4-3 formation, also alternating which flank we start from. Play starts with the coach serving the ball in to one of the centre backs on the left side of the pitch. The centre backs play it across the back line and to the right wing back. The wing back takes the ball forward and plays it to the central midfielder. The central midfielder plays the ball to the central attacker who has pulled out wide. The attacker plays a cross in for either the right wing back, the other central midfielder, or the left attacker to run on to and one of them finishes with a shot, as shown [4a]. 

[4a]

1. Play starts with the coach serving the ball in to one of the centre backs on the left side of the pitch 
2. The centre backs play it across the back line to the right wing back
3. The wing back takes the ball forward and plays it to the central midfielder, who feeds the central attacker out wide
4. The attacker crosses in for the right wing back, the other central midfielder and the left attacker to run on to 

We then reset for a second pattern of play. The coach on the left plays the ball in to one of the centre backs. The centre backs play it across the back line and it is passed to the right wing back who runs on to the pass. The wing back passes the ball to the central midfielder who plays it for the left attacker to run on to. The attacker plays the ball wide for the wing back who has made a run and the wing back crosses it in for either the oncoming central attacker or the right attacker to finish from, as shown [4b].

[4b]

1. In this second pattern of play the coach serves the ball to one of the centre backs. The defenders play it across the back line and it is passed to the right wing back who runs on to the pass
2. The right wing back plays the ball to the central midfielder, who passes it for the left attacker to 
   run on to
3. The left attacker plays the ball wide for the wing back who has made a run to receive. The wing back then crosses it
4. Other players support the attack with forward runs

We reset again for a third pattern. The coach starts by serving the ball to one of the centre backs. The centre backs play it across the back line and it is fed to the right wing back. The wing back plays the ball inside for the right-sided forward to run on to. The forward then passes the ball to the central midfielder who plays it out wide, finding the left wing back who has made a forward run. The wing back receives and drives forward with the ball before crossing into the path of an attacker who finishes, as shown [4c].

[4c]

1. In this third pattern of play the coach serves the ball to the centre backs, who work it across the back line to the right wing back
2. The wing back plays the ball inside for the right-sided forward to run on to. The ball is then passed to the central midfielder who plays it out to the left wing back
3. The left winger crosses to set up a goal scoring opportunity

PRACTICE 5

We set up on two-thirds of a pitch with a penalty area at each end. A full size goal and goalkeeper are positioned at each end. We’re using 20 outfield players split into two teams of 11 including keepers. We are coaching the blues and specifically looking at our defensive shape.

The teams play an 11v11 game utilising what they have learnt from this session and we stop the game to make coaching points whenever we feel it is necessary. We look at the defensive shape from the front and whether the players are blocking the opposition’s passing lanes into midfield. We also check the player distances and their shifting across when the ball goes wide, and we look at the pressing triggers of our defensive line and how they step out to press the ball. 

In the example, the red goalkeeper starts with the ball and plays it to a centre back, who passes to the other centre back before it is played out wide. The blues press to win the ball back, blocking passing lines, as shown [5]. 

[5]

1. The red goalkeeper starts with the ball and plays it to a centre back, who passes to the other centre back before it is played out wide 
2. The blues press to win the ball back, blocking passing lines