Football Association of Ireland

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Attacking Defending

3 v 2 Attacking with 2 v 3 Transition to Defend

A functional practice designed to improve players in both attack and defence with transition.

Key objectives

Attacking: Look for players to spread out in possession and make the pitch as big as possible
Encourage players to play with their head up and check shoulder so they can find the free player and be aware of pressure from opposition
Angles and distance of support, can the player on the ball pass to you?
Defending: Can defenders delay 3 attackers in making decisions – press and cover
Transition to attack – counter attacks
Quick transition from 3 v 2 into 2 v 3 is important…concentration is vital
Communication and awareness is key

Organisation

Area: 40 x 30 metres
3 Blues v 2 Yellows + 2 Goalkeepers. Both Blue and Yellow resting players at the same end as seen in diagram
3 Blue players start game against 2 Yellow players and try to create a goal scoring opportunity as seen above
If Yellow team win the ball they transition to attack the opposite goal
If a goal is scored or the the ball leaves the pitch – the Blue team must quickly transition to defend with two players staying on the pitch while 3 new Yellow players now attack
Have a supply of footballs on the side to keep the practice at a high intensity

Session details

Attacking
Defending

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Session plan

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