Football Association of Ireland

Attacking Defending

5 v 5 + 3 Possession with Transition

A functional practice designed to improve players passing, movement, awareness of space and decision making with transition to defend.

Key objectives

Quality and selection of pass
Body shape/Receive on Back Foot /First Touch
Angles and Distance of support
Awareness of space and defender
Communication between players
Transition to Defend – can we win ball back as quickly as possible?
Transition to Attack – can we now keep possession and get in shape as quickly as possible?
Pressure when defending – can we force opposition into making a mistake?

Organisation

Area: 40 x 30 metres
5 Blue Players v 5 Yellow Players + 3 Red Players (Link Up Players)
Objective of both teams is to keep possession of the football using the Red players
Team in possession, i.e. (Blue Players as seen above in diagram) must stay in shape above to keep passing angles with one Player playing inside the area
If the Yellow Players win the ball, they must quickly transition to attack and now get in the shape the Blue Players were in
If the Blue Players give the ball away, they must quickly transition to defend and win the ball back with all five Players now inside the area
Coach to have a supply of footballs to keep the practice continually flowing

Session details

Attacking
Defending

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Session plan

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