High-speed transitions

Organisation 

• Mark out a 20m x 30m exercise area either side of the halfway line.

• Divide the group into 2 teams of 4 (oranges and blues) and assign a team to each half of the exercise area.

• Place 2 orange players inside the blues’ half.

Explanation

• A 4v2 possession game is contested inside the blues’ half.

• The blues’ objective is to complete 10 passes. If they manage to do so, they are awarded a point.

• The 2 orange players try to win the ball back.

• If an orange player gets a touch to the ball or a blue player puts the ball out of play, the coach feeds a new ball into an orange player in the other half of the exercise area, and the 2 orange pressing players move into the other half and become in-possession players.

• Two blue players enter the oranges’ half to try to regain possession.

Coaching points 

• Pressing players should apply a coordinated press.

• Encourage in-possession players to take no more than 2 touches.

• In-possession players should create passing angles for the ball carrier.

• In-possession players should make good movement to receive the ball.

• Pressing players should press at high intensity.

• Players must recover quickly between transitions.

• In-possession players must weigh their passes.