In the modern game, pressing is more than just a defensive strategy; it's a proactive method of creating goal-scoring opportunities. As discussed in the tactical theory ‘Unlocking Goals Through Pressing: Celtic’s High-Block & Motherwell’s Mid-Block Tactics’, effective pressing structures can vary drastically in their approach. From Celtic's high press, designed...
Rondo and possession exercises are now staples in most modern football coaches' repertoires. They can, and should, be used throughout the season. However, they can be particularly useful to coaches during pre-season as a way to break down the components of a particular game model while providing enough intensity to...
As we have seen with many of Europe's top teams this season, attacking wingers can often be the difference-makers in close matches. With many teams defending deep, inside their own defensive third, and crowding out the central areas, having a player who can go by a full-back and take defenders...
Last week, we discussed controlling possession and the tools that can help you teach your team in this manner. Now, we're back with a piece about pressing and counter-pressing. Those two almost exclusively go hand in hand in modern football and are used as some of the main tools of domination in...
This session will aim to create opportunities for players to work on attacking transition principles. We will encourage them to initially seek to break lines and play forward into players who have support. However, we will also encourage them to recognise when this isn’t possible and instead have them retain...
Having players quickly react to a loss of possession is an issue that can plight even teams at the highest level in the game. When coaching this aspect of the game, it is often useful to constantly have transition moments throughout other sessions. Defensive transition can be a sub-focus in...
When we coach forwards, and in particular when we coach finishing, we often focus on the strike's execution itself. Whilst there is absolutely a need to do this, this focus can lead to unrealistic shooting practices, often unopposed or from positions from which shots very rarely come. However, we need...
This tactical analysis presents a set of practices designed to enhance a team's ability to defend effectively in wide areas. This session will initially focus on how we should approach defending the width of the pitch using our full-backs and wingers working in tandem. It will provide plenty of opportunities...
This tactical training analysis will reveal how to coach a counter-attacking philosophy in a training session. It will also include the principles of transitioning from defence to attack and drills to teach your players how to act in different scenarios. Key Principles Of Counter-Attacking In transition moments, one needs to...
In the modern game, so many teams play with a midfield three. While working with a team for a season, we may well find ourselves focusing on big and slightly broad concepts, like “playing out from the back” or “finishing in the final third". We can play a midfield three...
Coaching philosophies in football set teams apart, adding complexity to the game and ultimately making it more intriguing. Every single one of us has our favourite style of play, and on-field coaching is the main way to realize your idea in material form. Controlling possession is one of the most...
Below, we examine six patterns of play that can be utilised in the 3-4-3 formation and similar formations, including 3-4-1-2, 3-4-2-1, and 3-5-2. Four patterns of play are designed for wide penetration, while the other two are intended for central penetration. If you coach the 3-4-3 system or participate in any high-level coaching courses, such as the UEFA...
Below, we look at 6 patterns of play you can use in the 4-2-3-1 formation. We will use tactical analysis and coaching to identify 4 patterns of play. These include wide penetration, while the other two are for central penetration. If you are coaching the 4-2-3-1 system or participating in...
Tercera Federación is a hub of talent in Spain. This is not only true of talent but also of the tactics within the tournament for every single team. In a country where positional play abounds and space management is usually similar, the differences in the styles of play in these categories...
One can debate many strategies in football. But there is one thing no football coach will ever doubt: the importance of counter-attacking. In football, goals can either be scored from a positional attack, from set-piece situations or counter-attacks. The latter contains some advantages one can benefit from, which will be...
Earlier this month in the April edition of the Total Football Analysis Magazine, we ran a tactical theory piece on 'Attacking With Inverted Wingers'. Along with giving a brief history of the position, we outlined the unique and often overlooked advantages of this role in the final third of the...
This tactical analysis highlights some practices that would allow your team to understand how to counter-attack quickly through a low block. In previous coaching articles we have provided an analysis of coaching the key football tactics of defending in a low block. This session would build nicely on this topic, allowing them to...
This article represents the fourth instalment in a six-part series on coaching team defending. This is looking at group tactics, rather than the individual, so whilst individual technique or tactics can certainly be coached if necessary during these sessions, these aren’t the main outcomes of the practices shown in this...
This article represents the third installment in a six-part series on coaching team defending. This is looking at group tactics, rather than the individual, so whilst individual technique or tactics can certainly be coached if necessary during these sessions, these aren’t the main outcomes of the practices shown in this...
This article represents the second in a six-part series on coaching team defending. This is looking at group tactics, rather than the individual, so whilst individual technique or tactics can certainly be coached if necessary during these sessions, these aren’t the main outcomes of the practices shown in this analysis....
