Zones, channels and numerical advantage
Ready when: Turns and feints (i1) to Defending 1 v 1 and 2 v 2 (i4) done, in a team.
What you are learning
Using the whole pitch as a team: small games in marked zones, a floating player who joins the attack to make more attackers than defenders, and quick switches of play from one side to the other to find space.
Words on this card Pitch, Goal, Small-sided game, Bib, Tackle, Switch, Joker, Overload, Zones, Switch of play, Free kick
- Pitch
- The football field.
- Goal
- The goal is the frame with a net; the goal line is the end line it stands on; the sidelines run down the long sides.
- Small-sided game
- A game with only a few players a side; "v" means against.
- Bib
- A coloured vest that shows which team a player is on.
- Tackle
- Taking the ball from an opponent's feet with your foot.
- Switch
- Changing at once from attacking to defending, or back, when the ball changes team.
- Joker
- A player who always plays for the team with the ball.
- Overload
- More attackers than defenders in a game or an area.
- Zones
- Strips or areas of the pitch marked for a practice game.
- Switch of play
- Passing the ball quickly from one side of the pitch to the other.
- Free kick
- A free kick is an unopposed kick after a foul; a penalty kick is a shot from 11 m with only the keeper to beat.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Mark the pitch into three strips lengthways: two wide channels and a middle.
- Put 2 v 2 or 3 v 3 in each part; one floating player in a bib.
- Walk through a switch of play: the ball goes from one wide channel, through the middle, to the other wide channel.
Your part while they practise
The coach sets the zones and floating players.
Step by step
- Small-sided games in zones (2 v 2 and 3 v 3).
- A floating player who joins the attack.
- Switches of play from one side to the other.
How much: 2 games of 8 minutes 20 min a session 2 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Switch and score
A zone game where a goal after a switch of play counts double.
Who plays: two teams of 4 to 7 against each other, plus a floating player; a coach referees.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Players stay in their own zone; only the floating player may move between zones
- Kick off from the middle
- A goal scored after the ball has been in both wide channels in the same attack counts double
- Two halves of 8 minutes
- Fair play
- A stronger team plays without the floating player.
- Points
- 1 goal for a normal goal; 2 goals after a switch of play.
- Fouls
- A free kick to the other team
- A player leaving their zone
- A foul tackle, a push or a hand ball
- The floating player scoring
- Winning
- More goals after two halves.
- 1 goals for 1 star
- 3 goals for 2 stars
- 5 goals for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Fewer constraints.
More constraints.
What you will see, and what to say
- two players in one space
Spread out
One per space. - late recovery
Switch on when you lose it
Defend at once.
Self-check
The team uses the whole width in 5 of 10 attacks.
Stop and get a coach when
Overload or injury.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains tactics, transition.
awiseathlete.com/sports/football/football-a1