2.3b 3v3 plus 2 possession game: Playing forward as a priority - FIFA Training Centre

The wheel symbolises the game, with each segment representing a specific aspect of it. The lightly coloured segments are included in the practice. The darkly coloured segments are emphasised. Lastly, the grey segments represent areas that are not practised.

The intention: What is practised?
The exercise aims to improve a unit’s ability to build and progress play within a narrow focus. There are other aspects, such as creating and finishing, that do not feature in the exercise. The drill focuses on unit-level elements, such as connecting play between the goalkeeper and through the midfield using quick combination play to play forward and break the first line of press. The players within the unit are tasked with constantly organising themselves around the ball into a build-up structure that helps them to connect and play through the press, with passing actions such as the up, back and through sequence a useful tool. The exercise can be narrowed to an individual scale, with players required to adopt a side-on body posture that increases their passing options. From a defensive perspective, the defending player positioned in the middle third has to decide on the most effective pressing option to deny and shut off the opposition’s forward passes.

The scale: For whom is this relevant?
The exercise revolves around the unit and focuses on positional structure to play through or around the press in central areas. The drill is particularly relevant to the players involved in breaking the opposition’s first line of press, such as the goalkeeper, centre-backs and deep-lying midfielders, as they try to combine with a player positioned beyond the first two lines of press, e.g. a number (8) or (10). The centre-backs operate on the same lines as the opposition’s press and look to overcome it by combining with the goalkeeper, who is positioned outside of the opposition’s shape, or a pivot player behind the first line of press. The number (8) or (10) occupies a position behind the opposing cover player, where they wait and seek a pocket of space between the opposition’s defensive lines. The out-of-possession unit set up with 2 high-pressing players and a cover player anticipating the progressive pass.

The practice type: How is the practice designed?
The exercise involves an opposed possession game and includes variable repetition that provides ample opportunities for a unit to practise offering to receive, movement to receive and passing forward to eliminate high-pressing opponents. The in-possession team’s objective is to play the ball into the end-zone players, which gives the exercise an element of direction, while the narrow nature of the exercise area forces the build-up to go through central areas. The middle zone serves as the point to connect play, and the third player bases their movement on what happens in the middle zone, while the end zones act as building-up zones in which the unit must draw in the press. The exercise allows players to operate in several roles, for instance, pivot players can switch roles with centre-backs when the ball is worked to the opposite end of the exercise area, while centre-backs can become midfield runners who support the pivot.

A 3v3 plus 2 rondo is contested, with the objective being for the in-possession team to transfer the ball from one green player to the other.

Organisation

Mark out a 25x10m exercise area.
Split the exercise area into 3 zones, with 10-metre-long end zones and a 5-metre-long middle zone.
Divide the group into 3 teams: 3 oranges, 3 blues and 2 greens.
Arrange the players as follows: 2 green players at either end of the exercise area, 2 blues v. 2 oranges inside the first zone and 1 blue v. 1 orange inside the middle zone.

Explanation

The exercise starts with one of the green players in possession.
The green player plays the ball to one of the 2 blue players positioned inside the first zone.
The 2 orange players must press and try to win the ball back. If they do so, possession switches and the teams swap roles.
The 2 blue players must combine and try to find their team-mate located in the middle zone or the green player positioned at the opposite end of the exercise area.
The blue player positioned in the middle zone acts as a pivot and can pass the ball back or forward.
The orange player positioned in the middle zone is tasked with blocking passes played into the blue player in the middle zone and the green player at the opposite end.
Once the ball is transferred to the green player at the opposite end of the exercise area, the players must quickly move toward the opposite end, restructure and contest the 2v2 in the end zone.
When the ball is in the opposite end zone, the green players can move freely inside the end zone.

Key coaching points

(1/4) Bad practice: Players who receive the ball with a closed body shape limit their field of vision and are unable to assess the position of their team-mates, opponents and the available space. In this example, the receiving player cannot see the space in which they have to turn and play or drive forward.

(2/4) Good practice: Players who receive the ball with an open body shape have a better field of vision, allowing them to identify passing lanes to team-mates in advanced positions or to exploit space in which to drive forward with the ball.

(3/4) Receiving the ball on defenders’ shoulders can result in play being progressed more quickly and effectively, while increasing the chances of breaking defensive lines.

(4/4) Receiving the ball between the lines on the back foot with a side-on body shape helps players to continue to progress play and break defensive lines further up the pitch.

Roles of coaches