Greetings Coaches,

This week we discuss the use of “Zone Games” to control the training environment.

Coaches must manipulate sessions / activities to bring out the best in the players within a training environment. Zone Games place players in game-like situations where pressure, time, space, touch restrictions etc are carefully controlled by the coach. Young players are sometimes overwhelmed in small-sided game situations due to all the decisions to be made – zone games can create a “comfort zone” for the players to allow specific technical / tactical aspects to be highlighted in a more controlled environment.

The following game is a 3-Zone (2 end zones, 1 central zone) that focuses on developing goal-scoring oportunities from central and wide areas.
See Diagram (a) below.

Set Up:

7v7 + 1 “Free” player. Players are organised as follows:
2v2 in each end-zone
2v2 + 1 “Free” player in central zone.

Explanation:

Play starts with a pass from either goalkeeper. Players must look to quickly play the ball through the midfield area – the “Free” player (F) plays for the team in possession of the ball – this creates a 3v2 in the midfield area. The midfield players must combine with the two central strikers in the end-zone to create goal-scoring opportunities.
* In Diagram (a) above, Defender (A) has quickly passed to midfielder (B). Midfield player (B) has turned quickly and passed to the feet of central striker (C). Midfield player (D) has moved into a good support position to receive a lay-off from (C). (D) may now strike at goal.

Coaching Points:

• Midfield players must take advantage of the number-up situation – sharp passing and movement
• No long passing sequences in midfield – play quickly to forwards
• Central strikers are encouraged to combine with each other to create goal-scoring chances.
• Central strikers are encouraged to take chances in 1v1 situations.
• Players must STAY in their assigned zones.
• Defenders must “mark” from goal-side.

Progressions:

Midfield players can advance into the end-zone to support the central strikers – creates numbers-up situation (3v2)
Diagrams (b) and (c) below further illustrate the activity –

Progression:

One player from each team has been moved into the wide “crossing” channel on each side of the playing area as shown below. Each end-zone is set up in a 1v1 situation. The central zone remains 2v2 + 1 “Free” player.

Explanation:

The wide players can play UNOPPOSED but are limited to 2-3 touches (depending on ability) Players are encouraged to create goal-scoring opportunities from wide areas. In the Diagram above, Defender (A) has passed to midfielder (B). (B) is being closed down by the opponent and decides to pass to “Free” player (F). (F) passes to the feet of the center forward (C) who plays the ball out wide for the wide support player (D).

Note – These unopposed crossing zones allow for players to concentrate on quality of their crosses and movement without the additional pressure of a defensive player – this results in a more productive training environment.

Also, the numbers-up situation in the midfield area should result in the creation of more goal-scoring opportunities.
Diagram (c) below illustrates the movement of the players after the ball has been passed wide to the crossing player.

Explanation:
Center-forward (C) has bent his/her run to get in the box, Midfielder (B) and opposite wide player (E) have also burst forward to get in the box for the cross.

Coaching Points:

• Wide players are encouraged to cross the ball quickly – no delay!
• Encourage at least 1 midfielder and the opposite wide player to get in the box for the cross. One midfielder for the defensive team may track back to defend. This creates a 3v2 in favor of the attacking team.
• Goalkeeper CANNOT throw directly to wide players.
• Encourage midfield players to pass to the center-forward before passing the ball wide.
• Center-forward is encouraged to receive the ball and take the defender on in a 1v1 situation.
• The ball does NOT have to go wide every time – goals can be scored from the central area as in the first stage of the activity.

Try using “Zone Games” with your team – be creative, think intelligently, try to break the game down into more managable components for your players to allow them to have success. Think about the size, space, touch restrictions, number of players, numbers-up, numbers-down, situations that occur in the game – can you manipulate these variables to increase the success rate?????????????????????? GOOD LUCK!