1-3 system: Space and verticality

This exercise, which works on a 1-3 formation, begins with a 1v1 situation in the attacking team’s defensive half. The attacker in the 1v1 scenario is given the time and space to gain an advantage over their opponent, which creates an overload in favour of the attacking team in the opposite half.

Organisation

Use a full court.
Place a goal at either end of the court.
Position a goalkeeper in both goals.
Set up four attackers v. two defenders.
Place two balls adjacent to each other in the attacking team’s defensive half, in the position shown in the graphic above.

Explanation

Play starts with the attacking player in the 1v1 scenario deciding with which of the two balls to attack the opposition’s goal.
Once the attacker has chosen one of the two balls, they dribble unopposed past their opponent, who passes the other ball to the attacking team’s goalkeeper with a lofted pass before immediately tracking back into their own half.
The attacker looks to combine with their team-mates in the attacking half to finish on goal.
The two attackers who begin the exercise in the most advanced attacking positions are limited to one touch.

Variations

Two defenders enter the court to create a 4v4 scenario.
Play starts with the goalkeeper playing the ball out to their team-mate in the 1v1 scenario or to a team-mate in the attacking half.

Coaching points