Pressing in the Defensive Third - Transition

This soccer tactic game develops the pressing, the organized defending and improves the cooperation between the players in the defensive third. 
Besides, the game emphasizes switching to attack after winning the ball, and helps practicing the first phase of the counter attack.

Published: 01.05.2019.
Last updated: 05.04.2020.
Category: Soccer Drills - Soccer Tactics
Hits: 2042
Age Age: 14 - 20+
Difficulty Difficulty: 3
Space Space: Half Field
Keeper Keeper: 2,3,4
Players Players: 16 - 18
Individual + Team Team
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Organisation

Cones are used to create a playing area with two zones on both sides, as shown.
Three goals are also created by poles on the baseline of the attacking team.
Two teams are identified with different colours (red and blue).
The red is the outnumbered attacking team with 6 players, the blue is the over-numbered defending (practising) team with 8 players.
Both team must be resting players.
The red team plays with 3 attackers and 3 midfielders, as the attacking formation of 4-3-3, the blue plays with 4 defenders and 4 midfielders, as the defending formation of 4-4-2. 
Of course, the game works in other systems and formations, too.
Two goalkeepers also take part in the game.
One of them is located behind the baseline of the attacking team. He has special roles, since he starts and restarts the game, however he becomes the target player after the blue team wins the ball. 

Description and Graphics

The game always starts by the goalkeeper behind the baseline passing the ball to a red midfielder.
The attacking players can combine each other between the two baselines and the two side zones, the blue players can also defend in this area. 
The over-numbered defending team have to put pressure on the ball and on the opponents immediately, to be able to tackle or intercept the ball by well-organised and cooperated defensive movements. After the intercepting they have to build up a fast counter attack by combination play.
There are special rules for entering to the side-zones, since the players can enter here after the interception.
If the blue team wins the ball, two players of the team can run into the side zones, where only one red player can try to regain the ball. So they can create a 2v1 situation on the sides during the counter attack.

They can finish the counter attack in two ways:

  • A player dribbles the ball across the goal line in one of the two side-zones.
  • The goalkeeper behind the baseline is played with an accurate, low pass by a player. 

The counter attack must be finished by a determined number of passes or under restricted time.

After losing the ball, the attackers make counter-pressing to try to regain the ball immediately.
If their effort is successful or the ball leaves the playing field, the game is restarted again by the goalkeeper.

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