Training with Purpose: Positional Games – 2 great drills

The following two exercises are taken from the third part of the “Flexible Training Sessions” booklet series, which focuses on “Positional games for numbers of players from 6 to 13.“ These formats are ideal for improving decision-making under time and space pressure, developing behavior in overload, even-numbered, or underload situations, and sharpening transitions.

Both exercises emphasize clean ball circulation, game intelligence, and counterpressing after losing possession—key elements for building up play in a controlled and effective way against compact, deep-sitting opponents.

Positional play in a 3 vs 1 with change of fields

Organization & Procedure
2 teams (red and blue) with 3 players each. 2 fields of 8 x 8m and a distance of 10m from each other. 4 rounds with a play time of 3’ each. Total duration: 15’

• Red plays a 3 vs 1 against blue in one field with a max. of 2 contacts.
• The remaining two blue players are positioned in the other field.
• If the hunter wins the ball for the second time (ball out of bounds or contact error) or if the hunter plays into the other court with at least 2 contacts, the play continues on the other side.
• The previous hunter now completes the team over there and the player who caused the second ball loss becomes the hunter in the other area asap.

Coaching Points

• Open playing position + pre-orientation
• Stepping out of the cover shadow in time

Variations

• Fields with 10 x 10m and then direct play for the team in majority
• Fields with 10 x 10m and then at least every second pass need a direct play for the team in majority

Positional play with interface passes and counterpressing

Organization & Procedure

2 teams (blue and red). Blue with 6 players and Red with 3 players. Field size: 18 x 18m with an additional 4 x 4m field in the center. There is a mini goal at each corner of the large field. 4 rounds with a play time of 3’ each. Total duration: 15’

• Blue has one player in the inner square; all the other players are distributed around the outer square.
• The 3 red hunters spread in the space in between and may not enter the inner square.
• Blue plays with a max. of 2 contacts.
• As soon as the center player is played to and passes to a winger across one of the 3 lines where the ball did not come from, this counts 1 point!
• Red tries to prevent passes to the center or to the outside by cleverly moving in the spaces needed.
• As soon as red gains ball possession, they counterattack on one of the 4 mini goals.
• Blue then immediately goes into counterpressing after losing the ball.

Coaching Point

• Patient style of play with pressure passes.

Variation

• Play with 4 red hunters and only 4 blue players
• If a point is scored, the previous center player changes positions with the passer