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From Defense To Offense: by Horst Hrubesch, Head Coach, German U18 Boys' National Team

This document provides a sample practice session plan for soccer teams of ages U14-U18, with a focus on transitioning quickly from defense to offense. The plan includes warm-up exercises focusing on technique and coordination. The main activity has the teams playing 2v2 and 3v3 scenarios within funnel-shaped fields to practice winning possession and immediately counterattacking. The conclusion has a full 6v6 scrimmage with rules encouraging fast transitions from defense to offense. The overall goal is for players to surprise opponents by switching rapidly to attacking mode as soon as the ball is won.

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Nikos Nikidis
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
226 views

From Defense To Offense: by Horst Hrubesch, Head Coach, German U18 Boys' National Team

This document provides a sample practice session plan for soccer teams of ages U14-U18, with a focus on transitioning quickly from defense to offense. The plan includes warm-up exercises focusing on technique and coordination. The main activity has the teams playing 2v2 and 3v3 scenarios within funnel-shaped fields to practice winning possession and immediately counterattacking. The conclusion has a full 6v6 scrimmage with rules encouraging fast transitions from defense to offense. The overall goal is for players to surprise opponents by switching rapidly to attacking mode as soon as the ball is won.

Uploaded by

Nikos Nikidis
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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YOUTH U14U18

From defense to offense

Success in Soccer 2/11

A sample practice session for ages U14U18 by Horst Hrubesch, head coach, German U18 boys national team

The new year is well under way. With winter break behind them, players and coaches alike have recharged their batteries for the second half of the season. Now that the weather is warm again, you can devote more of your practice time to tactics training. Spring provides all kinds of opportunities to try out new ideas or continue practicing and polishing the old ones. The agenda for this practice session includes outnumbering opponents, winning the ball and switching immediately to offense. The object is to move the ball forward as fast as possible and take your opponents by surprise while theyre still moving back into their positions.

WARM-UP Warm-up 1: Technique and coordination 1


Sequence
Player A passes to B and runs after the ball. B controls the ball while taking it forward and then passes to C. Then B runs over the poles and lines up behind C. C dribbles across the field and lines up behind D. Meanwhile, D, E and F execute the same sequence, except E runs

over the tires after passing to F.


As soon as C and F have received the ball, the sequence repeats.

Variations
Have players do various running and jumping exercises at the

poles and tires: hopping on one foot, taking two steps in each space, running backwards, etc. Run the sequence in the opposite direction.

Tips and corrections Setup


Mark out a coordination course. Set out cones and have players line up at them as shown in the All passes should be played while in motion. Receivers should step forward and actively call for the ball, then

receive and control it while moving forward.


Make sure players practice with both feet.

diagram.

Youth U14U18

Tactics: Group

From defense to offense


WARM-UP Warm-up 2: Technique and coordination 2
start out holding the balls in their hands.
Player A throws the ball to B, who controls it and passes it back. Next A passes to C, who controls the ball while moving forward. C plays a flighted ball to the goalkeeper on the centerline, who

passes it back to him when he gets to the end of the poles.


C dribbles across the field and lines up behind D. D, E and F execute the same sequence. F plays his flighted ball to

the goalkeeper on the endline and ends up at position A.


All other players also move to the next position.

Variations
The goalkeepers catch the flighted balls and roll or throw them into

the receivers path.


C and F receive the ball from the other goalkeeper when they get to

the end of the poles or tires.


Replace the poles and tires with other obstacles.

Setup
Setup is the same as in the previous exercise, except there are

Tips and corrections


Players should control thrown balls on the first touch and ideally

goals with goalkeepers on the endline and centerline.

pass back on the second one.


Passers and receivers should make eye contact before every pass. Encourage players to run the poles and cones as fast as possible

Sequence
Basic sequence remains the same as well, except now the players

while still maintaining precision (fast footwork).

MAIN ACTIVITY Main activity 1: Funnel 2 v. 2


Sequence
Two players from each team play 2 v. 2 in the funnel while their

teammates sit out.


Blue attacks on the standard goal; yellow counterattacks on the

mini goals and goal line.


When a goal is scored or the ball goes out, the round ends and two

new pairs take the field.


Which team is the first to score five goals?

Variations
The attacking team stays on the field at the end of the round and

switches to defense for the next round.


Assign time limits: If the defenders win the ball, they have just 10

seconds to finish.

Tips and corrections


If the attackers succeed in getting to the oppositions goal, the field

Setup
Mark out a funnel-shaped field between the 18-yard-line and the

center circle (see diagram).


Set up a standard goal with goalkeeper on the endline, opposite two

mini goals and a goal line.


Divide players into two teams.

opens up to the full width of the penalty box. The bottleneck leading to the penalty box is meant to help the defending team win the ball. Defenders should try to double-team the ball carrier while simultaneously blocking potential passing lanes. If they do win the ball, they should counterattack aggressively and try to finish as fast as they can.

Success in Soccer 2/11

MAIN ACTIVITY Main session 2: Double funnel


Assign two players to each zone.

Sequence
Teams play 2 v. 2 inside the two funnels and the center grid. For the attackers, the object is to pass to their teammates in the

next zone.
Play begins with a throw-in from a goalkeeper to one of the attack-

ing players.
Which team can score more goals in 10 minutes?

Variations
Rotate players to different zones every few rounds. If the attackers succeed in passing into the next zone, one of them

is allowed to cross over with the ball.

Tips and corrections


Defenders should exploit the advantages of the funnel by not at-

Setup
Set up two goals with goalkeepers on three-quarters of a field. Mark out two funnel shapes between them with a 30 x 20-yard grid

tacking too soon.


They should defend as a compact unit and launch a fast counterat-

tack if they win the ball.


The offside rule is in effect. Goalkeepers should stay focused and try to intercept through

in the center.
Teams are the same as in the previous exercise.

passes.

CONCLUSION 6 v. 6
Sequence
Teams play 6 v. 6. If a player on the defending team wins the ball, he has no more

than five seconds to pass it to a teammate in the other half.


If he fails, the ball goes back to the other team. Which team can score more goals?

Variations
Any goal scored within 15 seconds of the attackers winning the

ball counts triple.


Finish with a regular 6 v. 6 (no special rules).

Tips and corrections


Defenders should try to stay compact, outnumbering opponents

near the ball and trying to force a turnover.


If they succeed, they should quickly switch to offense, immediately

fan out and get the ball to their opponents goal as fast as they can.

Setup
Set up two goals with goalkeepers on two-thirds of a field limited to

Attackers should look for potential receivers in forward positions

and finish aggressively.

the width of the penalty box.


Mark out a centerline. Teams are the same as in the previous exercise.

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