Transitions

This session is a combination of our midfield press transitioning into regaining possession and our forward combination play. The session incorporates our usual 1-3-5-2 shape and works specifically on two units of the team – the centre forwards and the midfield five (made up of three midfielders and two wing backs).

We think this session is unique and the players seem to enjoy it, especially when we do unit work. It utilises our out-of-possession midfield straight line press and in regaining possession it becomes a forward pattern session with the forwards and the midfielders (along with the two wing backs) all constantly involved. 

We use the centre forwards in the initial stages as two central opposition midfielders just passing square, and we use the two wing backs as opposition wide players (or opposition full backs) before they turn into our attacking wing backs on regaining possession.

The key coaching point is focused on getting the ball to the opposite side of the pitch as quickly as possible on the turnover of possession. We also coach on rebalancing the midfield.

We like to run this session at least once a week, usually on a Wednesday when we split the players into specific units. It allows one coach to work on two units and the other coach to take on the centre backs for specific in-possession decision making work.

“In regaining possession it becomes a forward pattern session with the forwards and the midfielders all constantly involved”

PATTERN OF PLAY 1

We’re using seven outfield players, some of whom double up in roles for both our team attacking the main goal and the opposition team attacking the mini goals. We set up on two thirds of the pitch with a full size goal at one end and three mannequins are arranged in front of the goal, as shown. Three mini goals are positioned at the other end and yellow cones are placed to show the positions of our three midfielders and two wing backs when in attack. The red cones indicate the positions where the opposition full backs may travel to in order to become our wing backs when the transition occurs. Four poles are set up in a line between the middle of the mini goal and the middle yellow cone.

The opposition left full back starts with the ball and plays it to the opposition midfielder to their right (the two opposition midfielders are represented by our centre forwards doubling up in these roles). The left full back then runs to the red cone ready to become our right-sided wing back when the transition occurs.

The ball is played from one opposition midfielder to the other and then to the right full back. Our two midfield number 8s press the opposition midfielders in straight lines. The right back aims to play the ball into one of the mini goals but our midfield number 6 covers and intercepts. Our right-sided number 8 also covers the midfield number 6, as shown [1a]. 

[1a]

1. On transition all players become attackers and the number 6 who intercepted the ball switches play via the number 8 to the right-sided wing back (who was formerly the opposition left back)
2. The wing back receives and plays the ball to a centre forward
3. The centre forward receives and lays it off to a midfielder
4. The midfielder plays the ball for the wing back to run onto ready to cross

As our number 6 has intercepted the ball, the transition begins and all players now become attackers and launch an attack on the main goal. The full back who started the play is now our wing back. The team looks to switch the play – the number 6 plays the ball to the covering 8 through the poles, who plays it to the right-sided wing back.

The team now plays a combination, with our wing back playing the ball to a centre forward. The centre forward lays it off to a midfielder, who plays the ball for the wing back to run onto ready to cross, as shown [1b].

[1b]

1. On transition all players become attackers and the number 6 who intercepted the ball switches play via the number 8 to the right-sided wing back (who was formerly the opposition left back)
2. The wing back receives and plays the ball to a centre forward
3. The centre forward receives and lays it off to a midfielder
4. The midfielder plays the ball for the wing back to run onto ready to cross

Play then resets and the players go again.

Once the players have mastered the initial movements of the drill we then advance it to focus on different patterns when regaining the ball on transition. We work on a variety of movements on the regain, reinforcing the consistent coaching point that we try to play to the opposite side of the pitch as soon as possible in transition.

PATTERN OF PLAY 2

We’re using the same set-up as before but now we run a different pattern of play. In this example, play starts with the opposition left full back, who looks to score in the mini goal, but the ball is intercepted by our number 6, who plays the ball through the poles to our left-sided number 8. The left-sided number 8 then passes to the right full back who, in the transition, is now acting as our left wing back. The left-sided number 8 then makes a run down the wing to receive a return ball, as shown [2], while our right-sided number 8 initially leaves the space for the 6 and then comes back in for balance. 

[2]

1. Play starts with the opposition left full back, who looks to score in the mini goal. However, the ball is intercepted by our number 6 
2. The number 6 switches the play by passing the ball through the poles to our left-sided number 8, who plays to our left wing back (represented in transition by the opposition right back)
3. The left-sided number 8 then makes a run down the wing to receive a return ball

Our two centre forwards attack the penalty area ready to meet a cross from the wing back. Play then resets.

PATTERN OF PLAY 3

We’re using the same set-up as before but again we run a different pattern of play. In this example, our number 6 starts higher in the press. The opposition left full back starts with the ball and plays it to the midfielder, before running to the red cone. Our number 6 and the right-sided 8 begin a single line press on the opposition midfielders. This pressure forces the midfielder to play across to the other midfielder, who passes it on to the full back. Our left-sided number 8 presses the opposition full back, who looks to play the ball into the middle goal. Our right-sided number 8 travels around to protect the space and intercepts the ball, as shown [3]. Play then resets and the players go again.

[3]

1. The opposition left back starts with the ball and plays it to the midfielder, before running to the red cone 
2. Our number 6 and the right-sided number 8 begin a single line press on the opposition midfielders
3. This pressure forces the midfielder to play across to the other midfielder, who passes it on to the full back
4. The opposition full back looks to play the ball into the middle mini goal but our right-sided number 8 intercepts and the team secures possession before launching a counter-attack

“ What we do on regaining the ball has to be to secure possession and look to break on the counter-attack”

FINISHING PHASE

The transition is then advanced into a second phase, as we try and add a finishing element into the final 10 minutes of the session by keeping the initial attack going and then redelivering the ball into the penalty area after picking up the second ball.

All players are attacking the main goal. Two small boxes are marked out on either side of the penalty area with balls in them. The full back starts by playing a cross into the penalty area, which one of the centre forwards finishes from. A midfielder then reacts by running into one of the small boxes to collect another ball and plays it to the other full back, who crosses in for a forward to finish from, as shown [4].

[4]

1. The right full back starts by playing a cross into the penalty area, which one of the centre forwards finishes from 
2. A midfielder reacts by running into one of the boxes to collect a ball and then plays it to the left full back
3. The full back crosses in for a forward to finish from

COACHING POINTS

How would I put this in a game situation?

We usually finish the session with an 11v11. It’s a session we do when we play the bigger and harder opponents like Celtic and Rangers because our straight line press against them is vital. What we do on regaining the ball has to be to secure possession and look to break on the counter-attack to the opposite side because these teams are very expansive and at times leave themselves 2v2 at the back. We usually take the session back into our own half to create realism in the running distances.

What are the key things to look for?

In the first phase of the session we focus on the shape of the midfield pressing and the balance and distances between the players, as they need to remain the same distance apart. 

Our key triggers for the press are square passes and backwards passes, forcing the ball to the outside of the pitch and making the opposition more predictable, while increasing our chances of regaining possession.

On regaining possession our key coaching points relate to the shape of the midfield, playing to the opposite side as soon as possible, and then we move onto specific patterns of play on the regain.

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

In the set up phase the starting full back can tend to forget to jog to the red cone and change teams to become the attacking wing back. The midfield players can also be lazy with their positioning in an attempt to regain, so we constantly coach the balance and distances. 

In possession, the poles are there to make it more realistic with the pass through.