4vs4 Transition SSG

U-12+
Transition Small Sided Games

Objective(s) Key Coaching Points (KPs)

1. Develop possession skills.
2. Develop transition.
3. Develop playing tempo..
1. Quick passing and movement with limited
touches on the ball.
2. Central Neutral Pivot player (No.6) should
play with awareness, scanning over the shoul-
ders and constantly being an option.
3. Playing the way you face.
4. Speed of thought (thinking a pass ahead)
5. Quick transition in both Attacking and Defend-
ing transition.
6. Create supporting angles when on the sides.
7. Expand quickly when in possession of the
football.

Organization
30x20yrd grid.
(15 mins)
11 players.
4vs4 (+3). Diagram 1. Standard Set-Up/Typical Passing Pattern
Footballs readily available next to the coach positioned on the side of the
playing area.
Age: 12-Adult.

Instructions
3 Neutral Players (Yellow) play down the spine of the exercise (2 on the end lines and 1 cen-
trally). Team rotate roles depending on who has possession. In the diagrams the Grey Team
starts by defending, the Orange Team attacks and assuming the positions on the edge of the
playing area. On a loss of possession the two teams switch roles and positioning.
Defending team plays only in the central playing area.
2 yellow players play on each end line and one in the middle.
Play for 6 mins and then break for a 1 minute rest period.
The 3 Neutral players (4, 6, 9) act as a CB, CM and CF. When developing these positions
you could select positions for the exercise based on your teams positions.
The Grey and Orange (Red) players could be grouped by positional grouping (i.e. defend-
ers).
Possession passing targets can be set (i.e. 10 consecutive passes).
Completing 3 switches of play in succession (i.e. from one target player to the target player at
the opposite end = 1pt). Diagram 2. Basic Passing Pattern Example

Progressions
Addition of a 5th player to each team. These players remain in the central playing area at all
times.
Possession must go through all Neutral Players to gain a point.
Decrease the size of the playing area to make more challenging.
Touch limitations to 1/2 touch for either the central player only, or all players.

Variations
Vary the size of the playing area to increase or decrease the difficulty level.

Notes & Observations

Attempt to get a really quick tempo to this exercise and focus on limited touches and simple
quick passing. Transition should be very quick in order to be able to create a numbers up
scenario in order to maintain possession easier.
Diagram 3. Transition

Diagram 3. 5vs5