1-3-2-1: Patterns of Play at 7 v 7

1-3-2-1: Patterns of Play at 7 v 7

The following presentation is designed to simplify the potential Patterns of Play of players at 7 v 7. Eventually we will show several movements but we need to build up to these slowly and with patience. Patterns of Play are designed to be practiced to help players identify common situations in the game itself. 

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Small Sided 4 v 4 Defending Games

Small Sided 4 v 4 Defending Games

One way to teach the basic tactical game of the 4 v 4 is to offer many different ideas on actual game situation that focus on certain themes. This is what the following presentations does. You cannot do better than put players into game situations to learn the game, we just take it one stage further by what we present here. We begin by teaching defending principles in a 4 v 4 game situation so several thoughts on different set ups to teach it individually and collectively as team players.

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Teaching Defending as a Team in an 11 v 11

Teaching Defending as a Team in an 11 v 11

The best form of attacking is expert defending.  As a team we need to improve on this. Therefore a big part of our game MUST be heavy pressing all over the field with ALL players tuned into the way to do it. Players on the opposite side of the field when the ball is with opponents especially should understand their roles and the need to condense the spaces.

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Playing With A Man Down (10 v 11)

Playing With A Man Down (10 v 11)

Whatever method you use it is always important to have a game plan for a 10 v 11 Game Situation as it will happen at some stage of the season. How your players react will depend on what you teach them in training; so, reproduce the most common moments that may occur on the field. These are my thoughts on the theme of 10 v 11, I have offered quite a few alternatives, I know which I like the best, you the coach decide; which way suits your players the best; and start to teach it in training.

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Developing Play with a Defending Back Four

Developing Play with a Defending Back Four

The session is designed to show how to work on team shape building up from a back four only. Side cones are 25 to 30 yards apart as are the defenders and the coach. The coach moves with the ball and the defenders mirror the movement maintaining the distances between them.

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Academy Level: A Fun Awareness Warm-up for Improving Peripheral Vision

Academy Level: A Fun Awareness Warm-up for Improving Peripheral Vision

Use this warm up to work on awareness of where other players are (in this case all the other players are defenders trying to win possession of your ball) whilst maintaining possession of the ball ensuring players are looking around away from their own ball.

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