Central Attacking Midfielder

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Central Attacking Midfielder:

Based on Real Madrid and the 4-2-3-1 formation and watching 'ozil'

Set up a similar playing field

Coach or midfielder starts with the ball, 'Ozil' Drops shoulder, finds space and enters box, receives a pass and has 3 options.

1- Pass out wide to either Ronaldo or Di Maria

2- Play a 5-10 yard through ball for Benzema (Depending which side he spins off his marker)

3- Run forward until a CB breaks position to close him down, and either play a 1-2 with Benezma or through ball

Coaching Points:

- Ozil needs to check shoulder when entering the Red Coned Grid. If he's not marked he needs to ask/point/gesture to receive the pass on his back foot 'To speed up play and take lesser touches'

If he is marked, he needs to receive on his front foot, keep his body in the way of his marker, and play back to a free team mate, pull off his marker into space and receive another pass.

- If counter attacking, when playing the ball out wide, look to play pass 5-10 yards ahead of wingers to help speed up play. When in possession or attacking look at playing to feet instead.

- When playing a through ball to CF, look for which side the CF is pulling off his marker and play a 5-10 yard pass driven through.

Progressions:

- Add a midfield, 2v2 and 'Ozil' drops in to create a 3v2

- Add 1 or 2 CB's for CF to practice holding up and spinning off from

- Have wingers inline with Red Grid to start until 'Ozil' receives the pass, then the wingers break at speed into their grids for the possibility of a pass from 'Ozil'

Pressing and Spreading

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Pressing and Spreading

One of my favorite drills!

Aim of the drill:

- To show the importance and benefits of pressing as a team 'all or nothing' approach "pressing"

- Passing and moving and forming triangles "spreading"

- 6 Second rule (See Video) 

Set Up:

- Set up a 20x20 coned grid and split into 4x 10x10 grids as shown.

- Two teams of 3 play. 

Rules:

- Teams must only pass when they have support from their right and left 'as in theory a defender would be challenging/pressing HEAD ON and therefore support for the player would could from team mates to their left and right'

- Only one team mate per 10x10 'unless pressing'

Once the players are familiar with the set up and aims, begin and then progress to two teams within the grid.

Coach one team at a time, here its the ORANGES. On the coaches call the oranges ditch their own ball and have 6 SECONDS to fully press the oppositions ball as a team, abandoning markers and spare players and fully concentrate 100% on the oppositions ball. 

Leaving their own ball behind wherever it lay before the coach called. The coach counts down from 6 seconds. The oranges have 6 seconds to aggressively press the player with the ball and putting them under pressure. If they regain the ball the countdown ends, and the oranges score a point, if they don't manage to get the ball before the countdown ends the Whites gain a point.

Restart after the countdown with the opposite team.

Coaching Points:

The aim of 6 seconds comes from Barcelona 'when defending they call it the '6 second rule'. They have to get the ball back in 6 seconds. If they don't get it they drop back into their defensive formation.

- Players decision making, with not allowing two players in the same grid, players need to read the game and see where they need to go 'support' constantly changing.

- Communication off the ball between team mates to allow quick passing

- Accurate passing

Progressions:

- Increase the area 25x25 - 30x30 etc

- Team mates can dribble into grids where team mates are, tho previous team mate must quickly move out into another 'rotation/ rotating positions and spreading'

- More game related scenarios, playing out from the back and pressing. Using an entire half. Increasing size and players.

- Instead of the coach triggering the pressing, take it in turns as team to press 'ie - oranges kick ball out of grid then press, the white team off the ball communicate and actively seek to speed up movement and spreading to keep the ball for 6 seconds'

Outcomes:

- Players realise its easier to press 100% as a team for a few seconds than to spend potentially minutes chasing the ball/players and shadows as individuals to gain possession again.

- Passing and moving to support for team mates. 

- Off the ball movement is crucial for the team to succeed

- Communication

- Understanding of the 6-second rule. 

- Builds the basis to increase the area and players and re-create it at match day pace / level

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Fitness Drill - Strikers Sprint

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Fitness Drill - Strikers Sprint

Follow on from player fitness post

For any players reading this or coaches wanting to work on forward players this drill is great for improving strength/speed and explosiveness.

This can be done indoors or outdoors. But to help get the point across works slightly better outdoors.

The aim is to improve their anaerobic systems and to recreate a striker receiving the ball either on the halfway line or latching onto a through ball FROM the halfway line.

Now as the rough distance from the halfway to just shy of the area is around 30 yards. So this will be the benchmark to work too.

Mark out two cones 30 yards apart with one starting on the halfway line.

Players begin on their own from the halfway line, and sprint 30 yards and then walk back round to the start.

Repeat 10 times.

As fitness improves switch from walk to a slow jog.

Coaching Points:

- Head down for as long as naturally possible, picture 100 meter sprinters / 45 degree angle driving out of the blocks

- Drive with arms NOT legs. The faster you can pump your arms the faster your legs will go.

(As daft as that sounds, run in slow motion like your on baywatch, and maintaining this speed increase your arm speed and you'll then realise why this works)

- Elbows at 90 degrees

Progression:

To increase realism increase the distance at the start by 5 yards with another cone, followed by a 30 yard sprint.

Players work in twos BOTH facing AWAY. 

Player 1 backs into player 2 (who either using his chest/body or hands/arms) provides resistance. Player 1 keeping his body low drives back into player 2 forcing him backwards until they pass the 2nd cone, then player 1 spins off player 2 and then sprints 30 yards like before.

REPEAT 10 times

Adaptability:

This exercise/drill can also be tweaked for teams or players on wings who like to cut inside and want to improve on exploding inside for support or to attack teams.

Players back pedal out to the wings creating width for their team or losing their marker. When reaching the second cone, turn and sprint inside. Walk back to start. and repeat!.

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Playing Out From The Back

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Playing out from the back

Set up in the defensive third as shown, and one lone player in the middle third. Creating a 5v2 (1-GK and 4 defenders vs 2 attackers)

And 1 DM alone in the middle third.

Starting with the GK the defence split. With the CBs splitting to around the edge of the box as shown. The FBs pulling wide and high. 

Staying in the defensive third. The aim is for the '5' to play out from the GK and stay loosely in their positions and perform x-amount of consecutive passes. Say 10 passes. Once achieved the defence then look to play the ball to the Lone DM in the middle third. 

The Drill is then complete. 

Repeat 5-10 times each time fine tuning decision making and coaching points. No player or the ball to leave the defensive third until x-amount of successful consecutive passes.

Coaching Points:

- Keep passes simple at first. 10 yard passes instead of switching passes. 

To help encourage playing and passing.

- Try to use the GK as much as possible, every 2/3 passes should have the GK involved

- Check shoulder before and after receiving passes

- Receive on back foot/ half turn if possible

- Communication on and off the ball from team mates

Progressions:

- Look to only play to nearest team mates. Ie FB looks to pass to either CB or GK and NOT opposite FB

- Loose FB's and play a 3v2 'GK and 2 CB's' and add DM with the ability to drop in and out of the defensive third

- Add opposition Wingers in defensive third to rein-act a team pressing high on a Goal kick and then encourage movement and the DM to drop into the Defensive third when the CB's split to be an option from the GK

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An AJAX Fitness Test

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AN AJAX FITNESS TEST

A fitness test used by the dutch club AJAX.

- Run back and too 5 times

- Record Score/Time

- Work on progressing/improving indidivual times

- Aim to get around 10 seconds

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Spinning The Triangle

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Spinning The Triangle

Here is a simple way playing in a 4-3-3 switching from attacking to defending. With the midfield.



When attacking the midfield is set out like a triangle, with the two points being CM's or AM's with one DM. Giving the team more attacking options, and support to forwards and wingers. While at the same time providing depth and cover in the DM to bring balance.

During a transition, the midfield can 'spin the triangle' and quickly rotate into a defensive triangle. This time with two points in a defensive position. Leaving one CM up to help create an outlet/support/ balance when the ball is won back.

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ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

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One year ago today, i started my football coaching badges....

Within that time i've gone onto achieve:

- FA Level one

- FA Level two

- FA youth mod 1

- FA youth mod 2

- Coerver Youth Diploma

- FA Futsal

My 2nd year i would like to:

- FA youth mod 3

- UEFA B

- Premier Skills workshops

- Attend professional academies and watch/study pro coaches/sessions

- Continue coaching/ reading/ learning/ studying

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Pitch Dimensions

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Above - We have the typical pitch dimensions laid out by the FA.

Below - We have typical positions and typical runs made during a game.

However as players can play any number of roles/positions etc AND football is a multi directional sport. These runs are only a guide!!

These are guidelines if you are a coach/player to work too. For example full backs are turning more into wing backs, and thus will do more running!
HOWEVER tho they will do more running, it will be a completely different type of running compared to your defenders or even your strikers.

If we talk briefly about strikers.
Here i've put 30 yards. Now if we talk about running in a sprinting sense and talk about 100 meter sprinters and Usain Bolt. If he were to run a 100 meter race.
Over 0-30 yards he will typically spend that distance with his head down, arms pumping propelling his body forward. Only after this distance will he start to raise his body and shoulders back head back, knees high stride long etc
The point being 0-30 yards Usian Bolt is NEVER at top speed. Only accelerating!
Now if we take the striker, 0-30 would be accelerating and training for this position would require a completely different programme compared to say your full back / wing back. WHO WOULD be reaching top speed over 80-90 yards!

SO your strikers will need to be trained/conditioned to be able to cover 30 yards explosively within only a few seconds. And therefore need to work and improve on their anaerobic systems.
Your full backs/ wing backs will need to be trained/conditioned to increase not only there anaerobic capacity to cover 20-30 yards but also there aerobic capacity to be able to cope with running 80-90 yards for 90 minutes.

Tho both are doing the same thing, 'running'. BOTH would need completely different workout programmes.

I'm going to try and put together workout programmes for players positions to follow or coaches to use. Tho these will all be designed for your serious athlete as spending time once a week implementing it is not really gonna do anything but waste your time.

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Finishing Combo

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This is one of many possible attacking combos when playing a 4-3-3 during a transition phase of a game.

Here i've gone for the (oranges) winning the ball back from defence when in a 4-5-1 set up and played into midfield which has triggered the following events....

The CM plays the ball to the CF who shields the ball waiting for support from midfield, then plays the ball to the second supporting CM who plays it to the back foot of the LW who has pulled in field.

When at the same time the opposite winger has darted in field on the blind spot of the furthest CB and links up with a through ball from the LW - takes a touch into the area and passes/strokes the ball into the far corner. 

Now below is a set up that can be used to achieve this attacking play. 

x 5 cones, and 5 attackers and 1 GK are needed (probably 15+ years age wise)

The breakdown of the session is:

The session is aimed to re-create the transition to attack from defence. So in defence i like my 4-3-3 to drop into a 4-5-1 formation.

With the wingers dropping back to become LM and RM's retrospectively. The 5th midfielder (not shown) would be your typical DM.

Now with defending the key to narrow the pitch or squeeze the space the opposition has to play in, this is shown with the starting positions. (Narrow and infield) 

When the drill begins it can either be triggered from an interception or a pass into the CM.

Whichever this is the trigger for the attacking phase to begin.

Length and Width are needed as the team now has possession.

The length is created by the CF who runs forward past his cone and backing into the x2 CBs marking him.

CF:

- Strength to back into the defenders

- Strength and knowledge to receive the ball but also shield the ball

- Receive the ball on their FRONT foot

As the CM plays the ball into the CF, support is needed ASAP which is provided by the second CM who actively pushes forward to support and become a passing option.

CM:

- Speed to push forward intelligently 

- Lose marker to be free for CF to pass too

- Take as few touches to play in LW

As soon as the drill begins, and the first CM has control on the ball, the wingers or wide attackers need to supply the second point of the attacking principle (Length and WIDTH).

They pull out wide/around the cones to stretch the opposition (a stretched back four is a weak back four) 

At this point the second CM should be receiving the ball, now as the CF will have two CBs marking him, a winger needs to cut inside and increase the numbers to effect play.

In the first picture the CF has backed more into the CB on the right! So the LW needs to read this and pull inside (either with a disguised run or with a burst of pace or with help from an overlapping WB)

Either way it needs to be the winger with the Free CB side to come infield. 

As the LW pulls inside and will be closed down by the free CB the CM must play the ball to his back foot (as to his front foot, increases the chance of the player needing to take extra touches to either control/set himself up for the through ball and with this added time is wasted, increasing the chances of the defence getting organised). 

Ideally the LW will be able to play a one touch pass play a through ball across the defence to the UNSEEN/ BLIND SIDE run of the RW 

RW runs works, with the CF occupying the furthest CB and with the defence will/should of naturally drifted across to where the threat/ball is to the left side. Opening up a vulnerable gap to be exploited between the oppositions CB and LB. And with either a fast winger ready to exploit it or with a WB pushing up creating a 2v1 with the oppositions FB to help. A 1v1 goal scoring chance is created.

Progressions/ Variations:

- Let the play dictate the runs, ie the CF decides which side to receive the ball etc

(and let the players workout for themselves which winger needs to cut inside)

- Work both sides (5 on the left then 5 on the right etc)

- Add defenders

- Restrict passes to either 2-3 passes

- Restrict touches to either 2-3 touches

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Finishing in corners

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A friend of mine over saw a international coaching session, when he witnessed the following...

A group of players were taking shots at the goal before the session started, after about 20 or so shots and only about 4-5 resulting in a goal the coach of the session intervened....
He took the place of one of the players and asked a fellow player to pass him the ball. After controlling it, he simply passed the ball into the opposite corner adjacent to the goalkeepers starting position.
'One shot, One goal' - He calmly said
'You don't need to break the net every time you shoot! Shooting can be as simple as passing the ball into the net, Make every shot count!'


After hearing this story, i thought he is bang on. So i threw together the following drill/exercise

The coach plays a pass into a player, who controls it and dribbles/ plays himself into the area. Then adjusts his/hers body position and passes into their chosen corner.

To help with the key focus of 'passing/finishing in corners' Place two players in the corners. The idea the players wont drill it at the players but will more naturally pass it into them! Once they get into the habit, remove the players from the goals if needs be.

After a player shoots, they simple rotate with either player on the posts. Or work it, 10 shots then swap over etc

Progressions:

- Set yourself with one foot and pass/shoot with the other

- Left Corner use left foot Right Corner right foot etc

- Increase speed and intensity to match game conditions ie - One touch into box, one touch to finish

- Try to add abit of bend with the pass instead of straight on

- After success add a GK

Coaching Points:

- Players on their toes, and on the half turn

- Eyes up to pick spot

- Adjust body position for chosen spot 'ie shoulders square on to whichever corner'

- Standing foot placement 'Standing Toe pointing to where they want the ball to go' etc

- Good contact with inside of foot 'not laces' key focus is passing/finishing in corners 

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Circle Drill / Rondo

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Originally called the "Rondo" drill, but has many names

The Drill is normally used either as a warm up/ fun game / cool down. But actually is a very effective and highly important drill thats used by alot of professional clubs.

The set up consists of 7-8 players on the outside forming a circle, with 2 players on the inside. The 'white' players attempt to pass the ball round and across the circle as much as possible without the defenders 'red' intercepting/deflecting or winning the ball.

- The purpose of the drill is to better the white players ability to receive and pass the ball under pressure, and then to progress to as few touches as possible ideally leading to one touch.
- Teach defenders how to press intelligently
- Improved fitness

Try to encourage competitiveness with the outside players:
- How many consecutive passes
- How long in possession
- How many successful passes 'split' the defenders

Variations:
- Outside player swaps with a defender if his/her pass is intercepted/deflected etc
- 1 point for each successful pass 2 points for each defence splitting pass
- Ban passes to adjacent team mates etc

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4-3-3 ATTACKING GUIDE - WEEK THREE

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12 WEEK PROGRAMME:
ATTACKING IN A 4-3-3

Following on from Week Two:

'THE PLAYMAKER'

-------------------------------------->

We focused on the DM playing out to the wide attackers RW and LW and attacking.

WEEK THREE: WINGBACK SUPPORT x2 per week for 90mins

With the same set up from week TWO 

This time we now introduce the wingback's supporting runs. Here the DM passes out wide to either the RW or LW.

This is the trigger for the supporting WINGBACK to offer an overlap and try to create a 2v1 with the oppositions fullback. 

Below a typical setup for the drill in action with opposed defending.

Again the drill starts with the Playmaker 'DM' receiving the ball and looking for a FREE wide attacker. Here for the purpose of the drill the opposition FBs are defending 50% to encourage to success. 

The DM feeds the wide attacker with the ball.

With the WB's sitting in the RM/LM position, begin their supporting run 'guided with a coned gate' 

                  

With the wide attacker now with the ball, if space is available then the priority will be to exploit it! But if not, squaring up the oppositions FB with the WB overlapping creating a 2v1.
The RW/LW either plays to the WB or uses the WB as a dummy and exploits the space opened up.
If the WB is played in, with the following players making the type of runs below, the WB has multiple options available to pick/exploit etc 
CM - Front Post
CF - slightly off center or in front 
LW - Back post

Then reset and rotate flanks.

The following passing squence can be used to help introduce the session and for everyone to rotate positions to help understanding etc
1 - passes to 2
3 - runs through gate as 1 is passing to 2
2 - then passes to 3 on the overlap
3 - then crosses it in for 4 to finish

everyone rotates to the next station, ie 1 would now join the back of 3, 3 would now replace 2, 2 would join the back of 4, and 4 would join the back of 1 etc

(Also rotate the drill by using opposite flank)

Once the players are performing this comfortably 

(Follow this session onto)

WEEK FOUR

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4-3-3 LAYOUT

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In 10-11 months of coaching and trying to learn the now favorite formation everyone is trying to use the 4-3-3

This is my take on it, and tho there's loads of variations on setting it out and playing it. Heres how i like to implement it...

FOR ME THE KEY TO THE 4-3-3 IS THE NUMBER FIVE!

- This is the blueprint of the formation

However formations rarely stay strict, and work best being fluid and merging into others depending on where the ball is.
For this reason i think the main focus should be on developing player understanding, roles for certain positions during transitions.

- This is a typical layout used during transitional plays

- For me the KEY is superiority in numbers to dominate all thirds of the pitch and the key number is FIVE.
I like to have FIVE players in the middle, to achieve this.













  - When attacking the formation turns into a 2-5-3
and again the key number FIVE players in midfield. Acting as a net to contain the pressure, pick up lose balls, ready to initiate attacks, retain possession and recycle plays.

- WB's both push up! creating FIVE but also help plug the gaps on the flanks for any potential out balls from the opposition. But also give the team WIDTH and when either the wide attackers cut in field, to progress and offer overlaps or occupy the opposition fullbacks attention.

- CB's sit slightly back, FOR ME this is unusual BUT with the CBs marking the opposing strikers, sitting slightly further back. Gives the midfield more time on the ball and less likely to be attacked/tackled from behind. And gives slightly extra confidence, stability and security.

- When defending the formation turns into a 4-5-1
again the main theme of FIVE players in the middle, to dominate the 'engine room, heart beat of the game' if you will

- Wide attackers drop back to plug gaps and give stability and compactness, making it difficult for opposing players to break down or through

Key points:
- Making the pitch as small, and narrow
- Pressuring at key points, i.e. their strikers and midfielders. But getting back into position when their defenders have it. (Unless your chasing the game)

- Make the opposition FORCE it, make them TAKE RISKS.











Summary:

- Always having FIVE players in the middle third, to dominate the game.
- Midfielders stay roughly within width lines of the 18 yard box. To dominate and control the game.
Leaving the WBs and Wide Attackers to control the flanks
- WBs as soon as the ball is out of the defensive third turn into RM's and LM's
- Wide Attackers drop back as soon as an attack fails and plug the gaps and regain the FIVE in midfield

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4-3-3 ATTACKING GUIDE - WEEK TWO

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12 WEEK PROGRAMME: 

ATTACKING IN A 4-3-3

So in WEEK ONE: Midfield Possession
------------------------------------------------->

Here we focused on passing, moving and support running. Creating Triangles and angles to pass and to keep and maintain possession.

Then introducing the DM 'Playmaker' to drop into the pocket to create space to create attacks.

Week TWO will be carrying on from here...

12 WEEK PROGRAMME: 

ATTACKING IN A 4-3-3

WEEK TWO: THE PLAYMAKER x2 per week for 90mins

Set up with roughly a Penalty area width grid and length from the halfway line with 6 players in the grid.

Now following on from week one, and the DM dropping back into the pocket for space, here were following on but now also including 3 more players (LW, RW and CF)

The drill starts unopposed with the DM dropping back to receive the ball from the coach

Once the the DM has the ball this is the TRIGGER for the attacking TRIO to incorporate two points of the attacking formula, LENGTH AND WIDTH 

The wingers pull out to the touch lines (marked by the red cones) giving the team - WIDTH

And the CF pulls high giving the team - LENGTH

COACHING POINTS:
DM:
- Checking shoulder before moving and when receiving the ball
- Receiving the ball on their back foot and on the half turn
- Pass to wide players ideally are drilled or low and to feet (show how effective high and low balls are)
ie A high ball can take longer and more touches to control and slows up an attack! Where as a well placed pass to feet requires less touches and a faster attack
- Also work on passing to the infront of ie into SPACE for the winger to run onto
LW+RW:
- Pull out to touchlines with body shape always open/facing the ball as soon as the DM receives the ball
CF:
- Goes long taking CBs with them giving space for midfield players

CM's x2:

- Also push up to help create space for the DM and also to occupy the oppositions center midfielders (if they were to play a typical 4-4-2 line up.

The DM 'Playmaker' now has x3 attacking options LW, RW or CF

And acting as like an american quaterback if you will, looks to find whoever is FREE.

As this is unopposed and no defenders are involved yet, if the attacking trio (LW, RW and CF) have all been followed/tracked and are marked. 

The DM brings the ball forward into midfield (inside the grid) and keeps the ball with a 3 v 2.

Progress the drill into using defenders, and attacking on goal once the players have the understanding/following of the session.

Here the LW has pulled wide and not been followed by his marker, giving the DM 'The Playmaker' the option to find him.

Again if the defenders are marking the attacking trio (LW, RW and CF) the DM brings the ball forward in a 3v2 with the wingers coming narrower to either create a bigger overload or to come in and then back out to try and lose their marker for the DM to drop back into the 'Pocket' to find them.

TAKE HOME POINTS:

- As soon the team get the ball they look to attack, and thus MAKE the pitch as big as possible with 'width and length'

- The DM drops back into the 'pocket/space' between defence and midfield

- CM's push up to help create space and occupy oppositions midfield

Once the players are performing this well

(follow this session onto)

WEEK THREE

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