Recovering

Organisation

• Organise 1 goalkeeper and 4 outfield players in a 1-2-1 formation. Each player dribbles the ball and has a shot on goal before quickly dropping back into their original defensive position.
  

• The exercise is initially performed without any opposition to help explain the scenario and work on dropping back into a defensive position.

Explanation 

• Each attacking player dribbles the ball and has a shot on goal before quickly dropping into a defensive position.

• This exercise focuses on quick defensive recovery.

Variations 

• V1: Add 2 defenders. Set up 4 attackers v. 2 defenders (where only 3 attackers can form part of the attacking move). Once the attacking move comes to an end, the attackers must quickly recover their initial positions by dropping back into a 1-2-1 formation (no counter-attack permitted at this stage).

• V2&3: Allow the opposition to counter‑attack and tell the players to drop back into their nearest defensive position as soon as they lose the ball. 4v4 counter‑attack, with two more players being added to the defending team.

• V4: Set up the attacking team in a 2-1-1 formation

Coaching points

• Emphasise the idea that players recover their initial defensive positions as quickly as possible after the attacking move comes to an end.

• Communication is also key in this exercise.

• Players must keep their eyes on the ball while recovering their defensive position.