3v2 Plus One Recovering, Continuous
Three attackers attack two defenders; the attacker who loses the ball or the last to touch it stays to defend, and the wave goes back the other way. Continuous transitions on a 45 m pitch.
- Age
- U15–Senior
- Players
- 9–15
- Duration
- 18 min
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Intensity
- High
- Area
- 45 × 30 m
- Type
- Tactical
- Approach
- Global
- Format
- Waves
- Objectives
- Tactical: Defensive transition, Attacking transition
- Concepts worked on
Training diagram
Legend
- Attacker
- Defender
- Goalkeeper
- Pass
- Run without ball
- Dribble
- Shot
- Ball
- Cone
- Goal
This continuous wave keeps everyone switching roles. The attacking 3v2 must be finished quickly because a third defender recovers from behind, and the team that defends must counter straight away. Players learn to read the change of roles in a split second.
Objective
Finish a 3v2 before the recovering defender arrives, and switch to defending or attacking without pause.
Organisation
- Pitch of 45 × 30 m with two goals and goalkeepers. Three groups of three in different colours.
How it works
- Group A (3) attacks group B (2 defending, 1 recovering from the halfway line).
- When the attack ends, group B attacks the other goal against group C; one player of A stays to recover.
- Keep the waves going for 4 minutes; rest 2.
Coaching points
- Attack fast: three players, three lanes, finish within 8 seconds.
- Recovering player: sprint goal-side first, then pressure.
- Defenders: delay until the recovering player arrives.
Progressions
- Time limit of 6 seconds per attack.
Regressions
- Shorter pitch (35 m).
Variations
- Wide players can only receive in wide channels.
Key principles
- Fast attacks, faster recoveries.
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