4v3 in the Final Third
Four attackers play against three defenders and a goalkeeper in the final third. If the defenders win the ball, they counter into two mini-goals.
- Age
- U15–Senior
- Players
- 10–14
- Duration
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Intensity
- High
- Area
- 40 × 45 m
- Type
- Tactical
- Approach
- Global
- Format
- Positional game
- Objectives
- Technical: Finishing
- Tactical: Combination play, Decision making
- Concepts worked on
Training diagram
Legend
- Attacker
- Defender
- Goalkeeper
- Pass
- Run without ball
- Shot
- Ball
- Cone
- Goal
With one extra attacker, the attacking team must find the free player before the defenders shift. Players combine to drag defenders, attack the space between them and finish. The counter-goals keep the attackers honest about rest defence.
Objective
Find and use the free player to create clear chances against a back three.
Organisation
- Last 40 m of the pitch, full width of the box plus 10 m on each side. Two mini-goals on the 40 m line.
- Four attackers, three defenders, goalkeeper.
How it works
- The coach starts every attack with a pass to an attacker 30 m from goal.
- Attackers have 15 seconds. Defenders counter into the mini-goals.
- 6 attacks, then rotate two attackers into defence.
Coaching points
- Width: one attacker on each side to stretch the back three.
- Run into the gap between two defenders, not into a defender.
- Pass and move to make a new triangle.
Progressions
- Add a fourth defender who recovers from the mini-goals.
- Two-touch.
Regressions
- Five attackers (5v3).
Variations
- Goals only from inside the box.
Key principles
- Stretch, find the free player, attack the gap.
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