Training idea: Transition game based on a professional training session
Last year I had the opportunity to observe a professional team train for a week, before watching their game on the Saturday. A brilliant experience, I was blown away by the intensity and energy that surrounded their training sessions. One game in particular stood out, which I felt was transferable to my own team. Having tried it out, I then adapted it to act as a progression the following week, while still bringing out the same ideas in transition.
Both versions were quite hectic, with a lot of points being scored, so switched on coaches to keep score is a must. At the professional session, they played a 4 team round-robin, so keeping track of everything across both pitches was particularly important. I have included the original session along with my adaptation.
The Professional practice
The area size is approximately 14x14m, with four 5x5m corner zones leaving a 4x4m central red zone. Playing 5v5+1 in this space was extremely tight by design, with players under pressure at all times, almost like a rondo. Bear in mind this was a professional session, so I expanded it to about 18x18m for my own team. You could go larger, increasing the challenge for the counter-pressing team and creating more space for teams to run and counter-attack in to.
Rules
- Play 8 passes then score in one of the mini-goals = 1pt
- Win the ball in a corner zone and dribble to another corner zone = 1pt
- Win the ball in a corner zone and pass to another corner zone = 2pts
- Win the ball in a corner zone and play in to the red zone and back out to another corner = 3pts
- Win the ball in a corner zone and pass to furthest diagonal corner zone = 3pts
Coaching points
- Focus on transitions
- Find a pass away from pressure after winning the ball — more effective than dribbling
- Compactness defensively
- Aggressive counter-press — run towards the ball after you lose it
A variation
As you can see, the design is relatively similar to the one above. However, I have adjusted the goals so there are two at each end and I have stretched the pitch slightly so it is now approx. 24x18. I have also expanded the corner zones to be approx. 8x7m, with a 6x6m central red zone. Finally, I increased the numbers to 6v6, with each individual still having slightly more space than when I delivered the original 5v5 session in an 18x18m space.
Rules
- Play 8 passes and score in any goal = 1pt
- If a team wins the ball in a corner zone they can counter and score immediately. After doing so:
> Nearest goal = 0 points
> Second nearest goal (next-door zone) = 1pt
> Third nearest goal (opposite zone) = 2pts
> Furthest zone (diagonal across) = 3pts
- After 8 passes, all goals revert to = 1pt
- Pass in to the red zone and back out before scoring = goal counts double
Both practices have a clear focus on transitions, requiring teams to play way from pressure when they win the ball. This mirrors a realistic game situation, where pressure from the opposition moves towards the point where the ball was lost, creating a numerical superiority in this area. Therefore, it is important to move the ball away from this area as quickly as possible to avoid the opposition regaining possession.
The professional session was more akin to a rondo than a game scenario, with players often stood still in possession while circulating the ball. However, the expended field in my variation gave players more scope to move in to space as they received the ball.
The movement of the goals to each end and the shape of the field made the variation more directional, a deliberate decision to make it easier for the players to relate it to a game. Although both practices require the counter attacking team to play out of the zone they won it in, which is essentially a direction, the greater reward for the further goal encourages the counter-attacking team to play longer passes down the field. In a game, this will be beneficial as longer passes down the pitch will lead to more effective counter-attacks than playing short or sideways.
Requiring the ball to be won in the corner in both practices requires the out-of-possession team to attempt to force play in to a tight space and use the touchline as a defender before pressing aggressively, an important principle when defending in a game. Rewarding the in-possession team for playing in to the central red zone forces the out-of-possession team to defend it at all times. Although the out-of-possession team would always be pressing aggressively to prevent 8 passes being played, the red zone constraint means they must do so while maintaining a compact structure defensively. Without this constraint in the professional session the pressing was aggressive but wild at times, which is something I wanted to avoid. This isn’t to say the professional session was bad in any way, but I wanted more structure, and with it more game-realism, when I progressed it with my team. In a game, the centre of the pitch is the most dangerous, so it is a good area to highlight both in and out of possession.
Although players should look to counter quickly and 8 passes aren’t required for an effective counter-attack in such a small space, if the counter-pressing team are successful in delaying the attack without winning the ball, then all goals revert to being worth 1pt. This mirrors a game, where delaying a counter attack, even without regaining possession, will greatly reduce its threat.
Here are some possible variations:
Extra point for scoring within 3 passes after winning the ball
This increases the emphasis on scoring quickly, requiring faster decisions from players in possession. Playing quickly is an important principle of counter attacking, so this can be introduced if you feel this is not happening. It should be noted, this condition can lead to players targeting the closer goal. As this isn’t the most desirable outcome, you may wish to only award the extra point if the two further goals are scored in.
Put a neutral at each end between the goals
Putting a neutral player between the goals at each end provides a clear target player for the counter-attacking team, challenging them to play effective passes forward. To make these passes effective for counter-attacking, 3rd player movement will be required as shown above. These up-back-through combinations will come out a lot with the neutrals between the goals.
Extra point for scoring first time after the ball enters a corner zone
Although not the primary focus of the practice, this helps reinforce the idea of ‘overload to isolate’, where the in-possession team attempts to draw the opposition players to one area of the field, before a quick switch to a player in space in a different area. Once the in-possession team has played 8 passes, they should be encouraged to pick their moments to attack, playing to teammates in space in the corner zones when there is an immediate opportunity to score.
Award a point for winning the ball back in the zone it was lost in
While the other conditions are all focused on counter-attacking one, this is a good condition to maintain focus on counter-pressing. Players must be switched on and prepared for transitions, ready to collapse on the ball after losing it.
Coaching points
In Possession:
- Overload to isolate
- Attempt to play through the middle
- Play away from pressure after winning the ball
- Quick counter attacks in to space
- 3rd player movement
Out of Possession
- Compactness
- Protect the middle (high press)
- Force play to win the ball in the corner zones
- Use the touchline as a defender
- Aggressive counter-press after losing the ball
