Soccer Drills

World Wide Soccer Drill #3
Here is a good exercise that works on shape and balance as well as transition and counter attacks.

This is a 3 v 2 game with a counter attacker. Use a field of 40 x 30 with two small goals (2 yards wide of so) and two 6 yard attacking zones. The 3 X's are attacking the 2 O's and trying to score in the top goal. The restriction offensively is that the goal must be scored from within the attacking 6 yard zone. The 2 O's defend and if they win the ball, they try to score in the other goal and can find the third O who must stay in her attacking zone until her team wins the ball. See diagram below for set up.

While the attacking team has a numerical advantage in attack, they must always be aware of the third O. This is a great way to work on maintaining shape in attack and not leaving yourself exposed in back. It also is a good way to emphasize the importance of possession since the loss of possession can result in a quick counter attack.

There are numerous ways to do this activity. To start, have the X's make 10 attacks (with the O's rotating who the third O will be). Then they switch it around and have the O's attack the X's. Once everyone understands how to play, you can make this a free flowing game where each time a team loses the ball, they must immediately send a player into their attacking zone and play a man down defensively.

You also could add in keepers into the game which adds additional variations as well.

Try this game and once the players understand the reasoning behind the game, it can be used to work on an incredible number of parts of the game.

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