Score from close range

WHY USE IT

Improve an attacker’s movement and ability to take opportunities from close range, while defenders make overloads to support attacks. The practice works on all the attributes of a good attacker: decision-making, movement and technique.

SET UP

Use an area of 40x30 yards, split into two zones. We have used 14 players here. Each team has a goalkeeper, two defenders, two attackers and two support players.

HOW TO PLAY

Play 2v2 in each zone. Players must stay in their zones but link up with their team-mates to create an opportunity in the attacking zone. The attacking team can release a defender into the opposition zone once they have the ball in that zone, making a 3v2 overload to the attackers. This leaves the team short at the back but one of the support players can enter the zone from behind the goal to get it back to 2v2. Players go back once the move is over.

COACHING POINTS

The nearer to the goal a player gets, the harder clear shooting opportunities become, meaning that taking chances to score is vital. Hitting the target is important.