This practice is is a small sided game designed to provide players with opportunities to practice small possession based scenarios that are specific to a 1-4-3-3 formation.
About the Video
In the video below, Dan will talk you through the structure of the practice, various outcomes and how you can adapt it for your players.
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Practice Overview
Topic: Controlling Possession
No. of Players: 18
Goalkeepers: Yes
Practice Type: SSG
Offsides: N/A
Pitch Size: 36 x 20
Timing: 20 mins
Age Group: U13+
Interpreting the Diagrams
The key below outlines what the images mean on the diagrams.
If you have questions about the practices, contact the PDP Team or share your views on the Player Development Project Coaching Community.
Key For Diagrams
Diagrams
Objectives
This practice is designed to provide players with opportunities to practice small sided game possession based scenarios that are specific to a 1-4-3-3 formation. The positioning of the players inside the pitch combined with 4 red players in front of the centre-backs are reflective of 1-4-3-3 formation. Ideally you will see controlled forward possession with players playing from their 11v11 position.
Organisation
Set up a narrow small sided game divided into halves with two goals. Goalkeepers are critical to this practice functioning and should have a good supply of footballs in their goals to play quickly. The key constraint is that teams in possession can only pass to the 4 players on the outside positioned ahead of their of their centre-backs. Play for a set time of 2-4 minutes and rotate the outside players into the game and one team from the middle outside.
Observations & Interventions
What you might see
- Players passing forward to the top 2 players but not moving forward to support.
Actions you might take
- Set a time or touch limit on the outside players.
Adaptations:
Is the session too easy?
- Decrease the size of the area
- Reorganise the teams to balance the individual match-up within the game
Is the session too hard?
- Increase the size of the area
- Reorganise the teams to balance the individual match-up within the game
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