Authors - Parashos George

I use this drill to train the pressure of my team and the rapid exploitation of defensive weaknesses of opponents.

In space 40x40m create two groups of 5 players with 2 gk. Players get from a number and wait in the final line of their goal. I throw a ball in the center while shouting a random number. Players with the same number are required to run fast to get the ball.

He who will gain the ball is required to give a back pass to a team mate and only then the players from both teams can get in the pitch.
The player who came first continues to exert pressure on the new owner of the ball with the rest of the group followed by sprinting and pressing their opponents high. In this way they try to stem the offensive activity of the opponents.

If they manage to steal the ball they are now very close to the opponent goal.Then they should find solutions quickly to achieve goals. If they can not steal the ball and finish the situation I leave the game, until one of the two teams make a final attempt.

Intensity: 75% -95% M.H.R.

Duration: 2-4 sets X 3'-6'.

Stop: 2 'between sets.

• Training effect on the maintance of actions for a long time.
• Taining effect on the ability of faster repetition rate of explosive actions.
• Training effect on speed and reaction speed.
• Training effect on the above technical tactical and mental elements.

I use this drill to train attacks of my team with the participation of players from the rear zones.

In space 60x60m. create two groups of 10 players with 2 gk and which are divided into eg. 4v4 3v3 3v3 (i can choose between different systems i use) and placed in 3 zones 20x60m. The blue team starts with ball from the goalkeeper and with cooperation between players of the the first zone they try to pass the ball to the players in the second zone.

Figure 1.

Players from the middle zone trying (in cooperation with the first zone players) to pass the ball in the third zone. Then the side players of the attacking team from first zone and all from the second (attacking team only), with a sprint run can can join the attack in the third zone creating an overnumbered situation of at most 8v4.

There the attacking team is asked to quickly take advantage of the presence of players that come with speed from the back zone.

By the end of the attack players of each zone of the attacking team shifted accordingly to move to their starting zones (you can change players positions in order to equalize training load).
If the red team steal the ball continue to play normally with the same rules of the game from every zone they are.
Figure 2.

Exercise intensity: 75% -95% M.H.R.

Exercise Duration: 1-2 sets X 6'-10 '.

Stop: 2 between sets.

• Training effect on the maintenace of actions for a long time.
• Training effect on the faster repetition rate of explosives actions.
• Training effect on the above technical tactical and mental elements.

I use this drill to train my team in the transitioning from attack to defence, for the quick perception of the positions of the rival players and for cutting the passing channels.

In space 40x60m i create 2 teams of 7 players with 2 gk. One player from each team waiting at the two end lines with a ball.

Players in the main space dimensions 30x40m. are trying to maintain possession of the ball (without limitation contact).

The group that will be able to make five passes are free to choose one of the two goalposts to achieve a goal with one player only goes over the line and can not be marked by the opponent.

Once the player of the attacking team finishes the situation with 1v1 with the keeper, then the opponents player who is waiting at the final line with a ball at his feet comes in (quick change of player roles with the one that make the final attempt and the one that waits at the end line). He drives the ball fast to the central square and trying to organize a new state of ball possesion inside the square to attack in one of the two sides.

The nearest player of the team that had attacked before now is asked to close the space and the easy pass to his opponents that drives the ball towards the possesion square. Other players are invited to quickly split the markings and cut the channels for pass to stop the attacking activity of the opponents.

The player that made the final attempt with a defender change roles with the 2 players that came in.

Exercise intensity: 75% -90% M.H.R.

Exercise Duration: 1-2 sets x 6',

Stop: 2' between sets.

• Training effect on maintenance of actions for a long time.
• Training effect on the ability of faster repetition rate of explosive action.
• Effect of training on reaction speed and perception.
• Training effect on the above technical tactical and mental elements.

If you choose to start your defense from the 3/4 of the pitch and press, then one possibility is for your opponents to manage to change the ball on your weak side.Figure1.

In such cases where while the opposing winger has closed inward to create pressure and create conditions at driving the ball to one end, the distance to cover is great and the time a lot, allowing the opponent to perform an attack with enough free space.

Perform the following exercise to give specific instructions for resolving this problem.

Throughout the pitch, form two teams of 10v10 with 2 gk.

Start by building a game of one team from defence (once from the right central defender and one from the left alternately). The defending team acts on the basis of Figure 1.

Let the central defender change the game to the opposite back. Then the winger of the side moves vertically back to fill the gap and the inner midfielder comes to cover the player driving the ball. In this way the winger does less meters and the time required to cover the weak side minimize. Figure2.

• Exercise 1 x 10 '- 20' with alternate defense / attack every 2-4 times each team.
• Allow after the game change to attack and deal with it energetically.
• Allow time for your teams to return to their placements at a slow pace