Win the race for open space

by Tony Carr in Attacking, Practice plans

 PRINT
 Save to My Activities
It is vital to encourage inventive play in the attacking. third of the pitch, your players should
practise co-ordinated forward runs off the ball that will enable them to open up space and
therefore create opportunities to shoot for goal.
What this session is about
1. Combination forward play.
2. Creating space.
What to think about
 General – being inventive. Timing, direction, position of runs, timing and weight of
pass, attack at pace, communication (signal, trigger movement etc), playing with head up.
 Types of runs – cross over, overlap, decoy runs, wall pass, diagonal.
Set-up
Use a playing area 30 yards by 20 yards, two goalkeepers plus eight to 10 outfield players
Warm
Warm up Session Developments Game Situation
Down

10 minutes 10 minutes 15 minutes 15 minutes 10

minutes
What you get your players to do
 Split outfield players into two teams. Line teams up at opposite ends of the playing
area along the goal lines. Assign each player a number, from say one to six. Shout out three
numbers, the first two corresponding to two players on one team, and the third to a member
of the opposing team.
 The first team’s goalkeeper rolls the ball to one of his two team mates, starting a 2v1
situation where the defender is passive. Once the attack is over, the players return to their
start positions and the drill is repeated with the second team being the attackers.
 To progress, make the defender active.
 The goalkeeper starts the attack in a 2v1 situation, but the defender cannot make a challenge.

Development
 This time the coach shouts out two numbers, and the corresponding players from each
play in a 2v2.
 Add an extra attacker to make a 3v2.
The defender becomes active to pressure the two attackers. The attacker without the ball
makes a run into space.

Game situation
Now play a normal game of 4v4 where both teams try to score. Temporarily remove a player
from one team and encourage the other team to exploit the overload situation.
 The game develops into a 3v2 scenario where all players are active.

What to call out

 “Go for goal yourself if your team mate’s run attracts the defender”
 “Work with each other”
 “Time your run”