by Paul Payne
NSCAA Regional Technical Director
Craig Brown, former Scottish National Team Manager used this several years ago at a NSCAA course and I have found it to be useful for all ages of players. Players are faced with several tactical dilemmas on both sides of the ball as well as challenged physically and technically to produce.
- 2 teams of 4-5 players playing in area 50 x 35 (can adjust given ages and abilities of players) with two corner flags in the center forming a 10 yd. goal with 2 neutral zones at each end.
- One team attacks with 5 players against 4 with the extra defender assuming the position of GK (you decide if hands are allowed-if not will challenge the field players). The attacking team looks to score through the center goal flags and if successful play to the opposite neutral zone, reorganize and then turn and attack in the other direction.
- If the defenders win the ball, they play back to their GK who then carries the ball back to the opposite end and joins with the others to attack 5v4
This small sided training exercise is great to teach several points to players. A few are listed but obviously as the game is played you, the coach, need to be able to recognize the “coachable moment.”
- Attacking with numbers up, look at team shape, spacing of players.
- Defending numbers down, idea of pressure on the ball is key to other defenders actions
- Communication on both sides of the ball
- Recognizing moment of transition from attacking to defending and vice-versa
What is nice about this activity is that it can be played with kids of all ages and without the need for full-sized goals. You can also add numbers and other restrictions to challenge the players even more.
