A 5v2 Small-Sided Game With a Twist
Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s featured activity is a 5 v 2 game with a twist.
In a typical game of 5 v 2 the movement is limited to a couple of steps in any direction to change the angle of support. The only players doing a lot of movement are the defenders.
In this modified version of 5 v 2 there is a lot more movement and players have to react to each others runs. This game is played in a 15 x 15 yard grid (the size can vary) and the one change is after each pass, the passer must overlap another player.
This will result in the other players having to move as well
Each pass will result in similar type movement.
The passer does not have to always overlap the player receiving the ball.
By adding this wrinkle into the game it encourages more movement, more communication and more thought.
Have a great day!
Lawrence
I wouldn’t mind seeing a video of players actually running this exercise. Thing is, with an “el rondo” like this you have opportunities for 3, 4, of 5 quick one touch passes. How are you going to have 4 – 5 players all overlapping running players all at once?
probably better to limit the overlaps to when passes are to an adjacent team mate. That also encourages split passes between defenders. I’ve seen it work in that format. Takes a while for the players to get it, but once they do its a good pre-game warmup.
I ran drills like this last week with my high school JV team defenders. Afterward I placed them in a half field scrimmage (5v5) with a 5 yard box across the midfield line. The defenders goal was to pass to each other once they won possession in order to stop the ball in the box to score. The offensive players had a regular goal to shoot at with a keeper. The defense won the scrimmage exercise 7-5 by using these small sided passing skills to learn transition defense to move the ball upfield.
Coach Root, keep in mind the grid is only 15 x 15 so these overlapping runs are sometimes only 2-5 yards in length. I agree that it can get hectic but once the players get accustomed to this it works great.
MrMark, I like the idea of limiting the overlap to passes to adjacent teammates. That makes a lot of sense.
Lawrence