#Build and progress

3v3 plus 2 possession game: Playing forward as a priority

FIFA Talent Coach Programme, 12 Mar 2024

FIFA
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This opposed possession game focuses on a unit’s ability to build and progress play through central areas of the pitch. The exercise simulates building up from the back against a high block and involves drawing in the opposition to play into a central player and beyond.

Methodology

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.

Session plan

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

Roles of coaches

  • First coach: leads the exercise and intervenes at intervals to offer players pointers about their positioning and movement.

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Build and progress

Receiving between the lines

Receiving between the lines

Combining to progress play

Combining to progress play

Building & progressing against a high block

Building & progressing against a high block

Prioritising vertical play

Prioritising vertical play

Using the numerical advantage to progress

Using the numerical advantage to progress

Progressing through the thirds

Progressing through the thirds

Building up against a high block

Building up against a high block

Playing and receiving in-between opponents

Playing and receiving in-between opponents

Playing forward as a priority

Playing forward as a priority

Progressing the ball

Progressing the ball

Playing forward to avoid the pressure

Playing forward to avoid the pressure

Progressing play through the middle

Progressing play through the middle

Using a neutral player to progress

Using a neutral player to progress

Building up through middle areas

Building up through middle areas

Midfielders receiving on the half-turn

Midfielders receiving on the half-turn

Zonal restrictions

Zonal restrictions

Playing out from the back

Playing out from the back

Breaking lines

Breaking lines

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