6v6 with three gates at each end on 60 x 40 m: two passes in your own half before progressing and a goal by dribbling through a gate
Linkalde exercise
How it works
- Who starts
- A2 with the ball 10 m from his end line; blues in a 3-3 in their half, reds in a 3-3 in theirs and three gates at each end.
- Who takes part
- Twelve players: A1 to A6 and R1 to R6; there are no goalkeepers.
- What the ball does
- A2 passes to A5, A5 passes to A6, A6 dribbles and passes to A5, A5 dribbles between R4 and R5 and goes through the top gate on the right.
- How to score
- One point per goal by dribbling through a gate; half a point if the team that steals dribbles to the halfway line.
- When it ends
- With a goal, the ball out or a steal, and after six minutes of each series.
- How it restarts
- The team that defended restarts from its own half, with the same positions and the two-pass rule.
- How players rotate
- At the end of the series the teams change halves and gates.
Number of players
12-12 players
Format
6v6 with three gates at each end
Recommended
4 × 24 min
Rest 60s · High intensity
Space
Small-sided space
Space
40×60 m
Goal
Train the intensive fall-back and zonal defending as a block: reach positions quickly, defend the three gates at once, drop back together if the opponent forces and step up together when the ball goes back.
Description
A 60 x 40 m pitch with a dashed line at halfway. At each end there are three 3 m gates (mini goals without a goalkeeper) at 8, 20 and 32 m from the top touchline. Two teams of six play in a 3-3: blues (A1 to A6) and reds (R1 to R6). The blues attack the gates on the right and the reds those on the left. The blues start with the ball in their half: defenders A1, A2 and A3 10 m from their end line and midfielders A4, A5 and A6 22 m; A2 has the ball. The reds line up in their half with defenders R1, R2 and R3 8 m from their gates and midfielders R4, R5 and R6 20 m. The attacking team must make at least two passes inside its own half before it can cross the halfway line. A goal is scored by dribbling the ball through any of the three opposing gates. The defending team organises in an intensive fall-back, close to its gates, and drops back if forced; when the ball goes back, it steps up again to reduce the space. The play ends with a goal, the ball out or a steal, and the team that recovers attacks under the same rule.
Step by step
- 1
A2 passes to A5 inside the blue half.
- 2
A5 passes to A6; with two passes made, the team can now cross halfway.
- 3
A6 dribbles towards halfway, A4 and A5 move up to support him and the three red midfielders drop back towards their gates.
- 4
A6 passes to A5, who has been left between the lines.
- 5
A5 dribbles towards the gap left by R4 and R5.
- 6
A5 goes through the top gate on the right: goal.
- 7
Rotation: at the end of the series the teams change halves and gates.
Rules
Two passes in your own half before crossing halfway: if you cross before, the ball goes to the opponents. A goal is scored by dribbling the ball through a gate; a pass through the gate does not count. One point per goal. The team that recovers the ball and dribbles it under control to the halfway line scores half a point. Series of six minutes.
Equipment
- Balls
- Cones
- Bibs of 2 colours
- 6 mini goals of 3 m
Physical focus
Recommended times by goal
- Tactical: 4 × 6' · rest 1' · High intensityOrientativo
Rotation and restart
At the end of each series the teams change halves and gates, with the same positions.
Coaching points
- On losing the ball, run back without waiting to see what the opponent does.
- The three defenders close the three gates; the midfielders close the lanes between them.
- If the opponent forces you back, drop back together; if the ball goes back, step up together.
- Talk and point: whoever sees the ball warns the others.
- On winning the ball, break quickly but with the two passes in your own half.
Common mistakes
The midfielders stay far from the defenders and a lane is left free between the lines.
How to correct: Keep the distance between lines: if the midfielders do not drop, the defenders do not move apart either.
A defender leaves his gate to go to the ball and the opponent gets in through it.
How to correct: Each defender guards his gate until a team-mate takes over the cover.
Defending with the back to the ball and losing sight of the opponent.
How to correct: Drop back sideways or half-turned, with eyes on the ball and the man.
Questions for the players
- “When is it better to drop back and when to step the line up?”
- “What signs tell you to close a gate instead of going to the ball?”
Levels
- A · easyOnly one compulsory pass in your own half and gates of 4 m.
- B · standardAs described.
- C · advancedIn addition, the attacking team has eight seconds to score after crossing halfway.
If you have fewer or more players
- With 8 fewer: Play 4v4 on 50 x 35 m with two gates at each end and the same compulsory pass. (4v4 with two gates at each end)
- With more: Set up a second identical pitch alongside and the groups alternate by series. (Two 6v6 pitches with gates)
- With odd numbers: The extra player acts as a joker for the attacking team, without being able to score.
Age
Variations
- One goalkeeper per team. The three gates are replaced by a big goal with a goalkeeper and the two-pass rule is kept.
- Against the clock. The attacking team has only ten seconds from crossing halfway; if it does not score, it loses the ball.
Source: Gesdep (adaptado)