The best players and teams find a way to play even under intense pressure from opponents; everyone has enjoyed watching the great teams maintain possession, and the great players escape from pressure with ease.
A key component to their success is quick decision-making; as individuals and as a collective their decision-making has been fine tuned through years of learning / playing.
The following activities develop ‘Decision-Making’ and ‘Awareness’ in restricted spaces and teach the concept of ‘Orientation’ in order to find passing lanes to receive the ball. Orientation refers to a players ability to constantly scan, see and process the information around him in order to support a faster decision.
The activities ask questions of the players: Where is the pressure coming from? Can I play through or around the opponent? Can we maintain possession or can I identify a passing lane to play forward?
Get your players THINKING!! Quick Decision-Making is crucial to their success!
1.
Setup:
Three grids of approx. 10×10 – 12×12 are organised side by side as shown. Three groups of 3 Players.
Instructions:
POSSESSION: DECISION MAKING / ORIENTATION / AWARENESS
Three players (Black) maintain possession in a 3v1 situation vs the Red Defender; the objective is to move the ball through, around the central Red Defenders to the opposite grid (Green) players. One Player can enter the next grid to offer support – in the Diagram; Player #6 Green has entered the Central grid to offer support.
Players must recognise if they are pressed, where are the passing options etc . Activity is setup to develop good awareness and decision-making in confined spaces.
Play is continuous; any errors – Defensive team changes
Coaching Points:
- Possession: Can we play around, through the opponent?
- Where is the pressure / where is the space?
- Orientation + Awareness to receive passes between the lines – half-turned / eyes always scanning + processing
- Confined spaces = quick decision-making and execution: 1 + 2-touch play required
2.
Setup:
Three grids of Approx. 25×20 End Zones / 25×15 Central Zone. Three groups of 6 Players as shown.
Instructions:
PLAYING THROUGH THE OPPONENT: DECISION MAKING / ORIENTATION / AWARENESS
Six players (Red) maintain possession in a 6v3 situation vs the 3 Green Defender; the objective is to move the ball through, around the central grid to the opposite grid (Black) players. Two Players can enter the Central grid to offer support – in the Diagram; Players #6 Green has entered the Central grid to offer passing options.
Players must recognise if they are pressed, where are the passing options etc . Activity is setup to develop good awareness and decision-making in confined spaces.
Play is continuous; any errors – change Central team after designated period.
Coaching Points:
- Possession: Can we play around, through the opponent?
- Can we find passes between their lines?
- Where is the pressure / where is the space?
- Orientation + Awareness to receive passes between the lines – half-turned / eyes always scanning + processing
- Confined spaces = quick decision-making and execution: 1 + 2-touch play required
3.
Setup:
18 Players split into 8v8+2 ‘Free’ Players (*Free players are Central Mid Players). 4m wide central zone is created as shown. Other players organised in positions.
Instructions:
PENETRATING THROUGH / BETWEEN OPPONENTS LINES
The team in possession can use the 2 ‘Neutral’ players; this creates a 7v4 when in possession. After 6-10 consecutive passes , in their defensive half, team must look to pass forward to their teammates arriving in the Central zone unopposed; Free players now move to the other side to create the 6v4 to goal.
*Next ball starts with Coach (C) or Goalkeeper each time.
Progression (1) Allow one Fullback to advance to create bigger advantage in attacking half
Coaching Points:
- Quick ball circulation and movement
- Recognise the pressure / utilise numerical advantage to to keep ball
- Can we play through / around opponent?
- Awareness to find the passing channels / Orientation to receive balls and quickly turn in front **In the Diagram the #10 player) has arrived to receive a vertical pass from the Central Defender and can now quickly turn
- Receive in ‘half-turned’ body position to quickly turn in front