Drop Back To Keeper
Coaching Principles
Coach the players who have the ball where can they position themselves to provide support to the player on the ball either to the side of the player or to the side and behind. The players with the ball will always have one extra player so one of them should always be able to be free of a defender.
By having an extra player when they have the ball the team in possession should look to create 2v1 situations against the defenders, to play between or around the defenders using the extra player advantage
Activity
In this setup, each team consists of three players. When a team has the ball, all three players engage in the attack, aiming to score against the opposing team. Conversely, the team without the ball assigns one player to act as a goalkeeper, while the other two players focus on defense. The key twist lies in the transition of play: as soon as a team loses possession, they must immediately send a player back to act as the goalkeeper, while the opposing team’s goalkeeper joins their teammates in the attack. This continuous rotation creates dynamic 2v1 or 3v2 situations, encouraging players to develop their ability to quickly adapt to changing roles and to understand the principles of support in both offensive and defensive scenarios.
Require that a different player becomes the goalkeeper each time the team transitions to defense, ensuring that all players develop their skills in various roles.
Variations & Progressions
Add a Scoring Bonus for Quick Transitions: Reward teams with extra points for scoring within a certain period (e.g., 10 seconds) after gaining possession, encouraging rapid transitions and counter-attacks.
Coaching Points
Movement Off the Ball: Encourage players to constantly move off the ball to create passing options. This includes making diagonal runs, overlapping, or dropping back to receive the ball.
Spreading Out: Teach players to use the width and depth of the playing area. This spreads out the defense and creates more space to operate in.
Support Angles: Players should be aware of their position relative to the player with the ball. They should position themselves at angles that provide easy passing options and open up the field.
Switching the Play: Teach players to switch the point of attack when one side of the field is congested. Quick switches can catch the defense off-guard and open up new avenues for attack.