9 v 9 situational game
Goal
Equipment
- Markers
- 9 vests
- 4 mini goals
- Balls
Preparation
- Playing Area: half field
- Players: 18
- Duration: 14 minutes
- Series: 2 of 6 minutes each with 2 minutes of recovery between sets
| Summary | Secondary Objectives |
|---|---|
|
Situational game to train players to create numerical superiority when in possession |
Creating space, Width, Depth, Overlaps, Possession, Switching play, Losing your marker, Creating width and depth, Mobility, Direct play, Numerical superiority (attack), Numerical equality (attack), Overlapping run with two people, Switch play |
Organization
Create a playing area measuring 60×50 meters/66×55 yards, marking out two 20-meter-wide/22-yard-wide zones inside it with different colored markers, starting from the end line: this creates three zones, two on the sides and one in the center. Place two mini goals outside each end line, approximately 18 meters/20 yards apart. Place the balls outside the playing area, near the central space, so that a member of staff can pass them. Form two teams of nine players. Both teams, the attacking and defending teams, initially line up as 4-2-3, so that there is numerical balance in the central area.
Description
- The game is played 9 v 9, with each team aiming to score goals
- The game always starts with the center players
- The defending team starts pressing without crossing the 20-meter line
- When the ball goes out of play or a goal is scored, play restarts with the team that has possession
Rules
- Free touches
- The defending team cannot cross the 20-meter line before the ball is in motion
- To score a goal, the team in possession must be entirely beyond its 20-meter line
- Goals are only valid within the opponent's 20-meter area
- The offside rule applies
Variations
- Reduce the central space to 16 meters/17 yards
- Position the goals further apart to encourage more outside play
- Introduce a third goal (the three goals must be equidistant from each other)
- Goals scored from any position count
Coaching Points
- The line-up of the two teams (and their respective pairings) is at the discretion of the coach, based on their game plan and the characteristics of the opponents to be faced
Players in possession of the ball:
- Generate and identify positional superiority
- When the teams are evenly matched, encourage movement without the ball to shift the opponent's defensive structure and create temporary spaces
- Be patient in possession, so as to progress in the game when the right opportunity arises
- Teach responsibility to players to maintain the right distances between each other
- Look for 1v1 situations (qualitative superiority), using counter-movements to gain small advantages over the opponent
