Attack in six zones: five passes in each space, switch of play, cross and finish in a 3v2

Goal

Link the phases of keeping the ball, progressing and finishing: circulate with judgement, switch the direction of play and get to shoot with a numerical advantage.

Description

Half pitch with a goal and a goalkeeper, divided into six spaces marked with cones: two low zones (1 on the right and 2 on the left), a central strip (3), two wide zones at the top (4 and 5) and the finishing zone (6) in front of the goal. Seven blues attack against four reds and the goalkeeper. Two blues start in zone 1 against two reds and look for five passes in a row with the help of the support players in the strip. Then the ball reaches zone 2 and, after another five passes, the play is switched with a long pass to the support player who has moved up the opposite wing. From there a cross goes into zone 6, where three blues finish against two reds and the goalkeeper.

Step by step

1. 1

   A1 and A2 pass the ball to each other in zone 1, pressed by R1 and R2, to build up the first passes.

2. 2

   A2 plays with support player B3, who is in the strip on the right and cannot be pressed.

3. 3

   B3 returns the ball to A1 and the five passes in a row are completed.

4. 4

   A1 passes to B2, the central support player in the strip, who moves it on in one touch.

5. 5

   B2 plays to A3, who is waiting in zone 2, and the two reds from zone 1 run to that zone.

6. 6

   After another five passes in zone 2, A3 passes to A4.

7. 7

   A4 switches the play with a long pass to B3, who has moved up the wing on the zone 4 side; meanwhile B1, B2 and A3 run towards zone 6.

8. 8

   B3 crosses from the wing into zone 6.

9. 9

   B2 shoots at goal first time.

Rules

Five passes in a row in each zone before moving to the next one. The three support players in the strip cannot be pressed and play in two touches. The two reds in zone 1 follow the ball to zone 2 and do not enter the strip. The switch of play is long, in the air or along the ground. In zone 6 the cross is finished in one or two touches.

Equipment

• Regulation goal
• Balls
• Bibs of 2 colours
• Cones

Recommended times by goal

• Tactical: 4 × 6' · rest 1' · Medium intensityOrientativo

Rotation and restart

Every three plays the roles of blues and reds are swapped and the wing of the cross alternates, right and left.

Coaching points

• Play calmly in each zone and draw the reds in before passing.
• The support player in the strip plays facing the ball and in one touch.
• The switch of play goes when the reds are bunched on one side.
• The finishers arrive from different positions: near post, far post and edge of the area.

Common mistakes

• The ball goes to the next zone without completing the five passes.

  How to correct: Count the passes out loud before moving forward.

• The switch of play is late and the reds have already shifted across.

  How to correct: Make the switch as soon as the reds move to one side.

• The three finishers arrive at the same point of the area.

  How to correct: Spread out between the near post, the far post and the edge of the area.

Questions for the players

• “What does the position of the reds tell you about when to switch the play?”
• “What changes between playing the ball in a zone and crossing it from the wing?”

Levels

• A · easyThree passes in each zone and no pressure from the reds in zone 2.
• B · standardAs described.
• C · advancedThree passes per zone, two touches at most, and the reds in zone 6 come out to press.

If you have fewer or more players

• With 9 fewer: Five blues and three reds, with two support players in the strip. (Attack in six zones, 5 against 3)
• With more: A third red in zone 1 and four blues in zone 6. (Attack in six zones, 8 against 5)
• With odd numbers: The extra player acts as an additional support player in the strip.

Age

Variations

• Other wing. The switch of play goes towards zone 5 and the cross comes in from the left wing.
• Second ball. After the shot, the coach throws in another ball to the edge of the area so the rebound can be contested.