Tactical drills to train the principles of play: possession and positional play, rondos, pressing and transitions, movement off the ball, 1v1 defending, attacking overloads and small-sided games. Ideal for working on your team's game model.
15 drills
8 drills
Possession in 25x25 m with two teams of four and three neutrals (two on opposite sidelines and one inside). The team in possession plays 7v4; the team that wins the ball takes over. Structure, support and counter-pressing.
Waves of three attackers against two defenders from the halfway line towards a goal with a keeper. The player on the ball must decide between dribbling, passing to the support or to the runner depending on the defenders' reaction.
1v1 duels in 15x8 m channels with two mini goals: the defender passes to the attacker and closes down immediately, steering them towards the side to win the ball. Individual defending technique.
4v4 small-sided game in 35x25 m in which each team defends two mini goals. Forces players to switch play, read the free goal and defend as a compact unit.
3v2 counter-attack on a half pitch with a defender recovering from behind. The attackers must finish quickly before the recovering defender evens up the duel.
4v4 small-sided game in 40x30 m with mini goals in which the team that loses the ball has six seconds to win it back. Trains immediate reaction and coordinated pressing.
Possession game with two inside jokers who always play with the team in possession. A 7v5 overload to work keeping the ball under pressure and finding the free player.
Goalkeeper transition drill: after the save, a quick overarm throw to the winger breaking into the flank, with a striker pressing the distribution.
A rondo is a possession game in a small space with a numerical advantage (4v1, 5v2...). It trains one-touch passing, body orientation, passing lines and counter-pressing in very little space.
From 3v3 up to 7v7. Small-sided games with neutrals let you work on overloads and transitions with groups of 8 to 16 players.