Annual training plan · U9–U13

Week 22: Attacking in Equal Numbers – 2 vs 2

2 complete training sessions with 8 drills – created by licensed coaches. Open every drill in the easy2coach web app with one click.

This week’s focus

Attacking with an overload has already been trained this season. In the 2 vs 1 and 3 vs 2 in particular, players have learned to play out an overload and to get to a finish purposefully.

However, when the attackers play against the same number of defenders, the situation becomes much more difficult. Each defender can orient himself to one attacker. So first of all, an overload has to be created in the situation or space has to be opened up.

Attacking with equal numbers is trained mainly in the 2 vs 2 and the 3 vs 3. You can let the players play out the attacks on their own at first. You can watch whether the attackers find their own solutions to finish the attacks successfully. And of course you can also see which solution the players choose when attacking with equal numbers.

When attacking with equal numbers, there are of course several options and tips for creating a finish from a promising position:

  • Move the ball around over large areas. This gives team-mates plenty of room for action, because no further opponents are drawn towards the ball.
  • Create overloads through positional rotations and overlaps
  • Offer runs in behind to get past the defence with a pass
  • Create an overload by winning an attacking 1 vs 1
  • Get to a finish purposefully

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

The focus of this training session is attacking in 2 vs 2. First, however, the session starts with a warm-up that works on feints. Pay particular attention to the feints being started in good time and looking convincing. In addition, the players should dribble at the “opponents” at high speed and go past them with a change of pace.

Exercises 2 and 3 then work extensively on 2 vs 2. There are very different ways of resolving the match situation. For example, the 2 defenders can be beaten by…

  • …winning a 1 vs 1 and so creating an overload
  • ...playing in the team-mate, who makes a clever run in behind
  • …beating the nearest opponent with a one-two

After a total of 45 minutes of work on attacking in 2 vs 2, the session ends with a 4 vs 4 small-sided game.

Coaching points for this session

Attacking in a 2 vs 2:

  • Create an overload with a one-two or an overlapping run
  • Offer runs in behind so as to get behind the defence with a pass
  • Create an overload by winning an attacking 1 vs 1
  • Get a shot away with purpose
Drill 1

Dribbling at Speed with Cones

15 min20 x 20 metres
  • Every player moves around the playing area with the ball at the feet.
  • The player uses the cones as opponents while dribbling at speed and performs feints as specified by the coach.
  • On the coach's call, a cone of the colour named has to be dribbled around completely at a sprint.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark the playing area; nine to twelve cones in different colours are spread out inside it.

Equipment: 13 to 16 cones and one ball per player.

Players: All players move around the playing area with a ball.

Coaching points
  • Look up from the ball.
  • Perform the feints to a high quality.
  • Pay attention to the other players.
Drill 2

Duel Training: 2 vs 2 with a Finish at Goal

20 min
  • The strikers start the drill with a square pass.
  • After that play is free.
  • If the attackers score a goal, the defenders stay on the pitch.
  • If the defenders win the ball, the strikers become defenders, and the next two attackers start an attack.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two cones mark the positions; there is a goal at one end.

Equipment: 2 cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: Two strikers and two defenders; plus a goalkeeper.

Drill 3

2 vs 2 on 2 Goals

25 minDouble penalty area
  • Two players from Team A with a ball and two players from Team B enter the playing area; this starts a 2 vs 2.
  • As soon as a goal is scored or one minute has been played, two new players each from A and B enter the playing area.
  • The four players who were in the playing area leave it.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area; there are two goals at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of equal size, A and B, plus goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Keep the rounds very intensive.
  • The defenders apply a high press.
Drill 4

Free Game in a 4 vs 4

25 min25 x 30 metres
  • The game is played freely as 4 vs 4.
  • In the combination play only ground passes are allowed.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area; there are four mini goals at the ends.

Equipment: 4 mini goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of four players each.

Coaching points
  • Demand free play and creativity.
  • Keep an eye on their own goals.
  • Defend in the space, but also apply pressing.
The complete session as a ready-made training plan – with animated drills in the web app. Go to the web app

Session 2

4 drills

The training session starts with “Chain Tag”. A drill in which the catchers hold hands and the players who are caught join this chain. What matters in this drill is good coordination between the catchers. Only if they can agree on a direction together do the catchers manage to catch more players.

After this warm-up there is a short block of work on attacking 1 vs 1, finishing and dribbling. In addition, the 2nd exercise trains speed of action. Because if the players dribble through the course in the exercise quickly and switch quickly after the finish, they can get to the ball sooner.

The 3rd exercise then continues with the focus of the week - attacking with equal numbers. The 2 vs 2 was already worked on yesterday. Today 3 vs 3 is trained.

The session ends with a small-sided game with dribbling goals, from 1 vs 1 up to 4 vs 4.

Coaching points for this session

Attacking in a 3 vs 3:

  • Move the ball around widely. This gives team-mates plenty of space to operate in, as no further opponents are drawn close to the ball
  • Create overloads through changes of position and overlapping runs
  • Offer runs in behind so as to get behind the defence with a pass
  • Create an overload by winning an attacking 1 vs 1
  • Go for goal with purpose
Drill 1

Chain Tag

15 min20 x 20 metres or larger, depending on the number of players
  • The drill starts with one catcher; the remaining players move around inside the playing area.
  • As soon as the catcher has touched a player, that player also becomes a catcher.
  • Hand in hand, the two of them catch further players.
  • If four or more players are holding hands as catchers, the chain of catchers may be split.
  • A round is over when all players have been caught.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark a square.

Equipment: 4 cones.

Players: The whole group; one player starts as the catcher.

Coaching points
  • Communicate with each other.
  • Use body feints to unsettle the catchers.
Drill 2

Shot After Dribbling in the 1 vs 1

20 min
  • The first players of both teams set off at the same time, dribble through the cones and then shoot at the goal on their left as they see it.
  • A ball is then played into the area and the two players play 1 vs 1 on the mini goals.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Eight cones form two dribbling courses; plus two youth goals and two mini goals.

Equipment: 2 youth goals, 2 mini goals, 8 cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams.

Coaching points
  • Transition immediately after the finish in order to be ready for the 1 vs 1.
Drill 3

Double 3 vs 3

20 min
  • In each of the two playing areas a 3 vs 3 is played towards one goal.
  • Every action starts from the feeder player, who is positioned opposite the goal.
  • The team in possession tries to finish in the 3 vs 3 on the goal with a goalkeeper.
  • If the defenders win the ball, they have to pass to the feeder player on the outside.
  • This switches the right to attack: the feeder player now plays the ball to the other team, which in turn tries to finish.
  • The playing time per round is three minutes.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones mark out two playing areas, each with one goal.

Equipment: 2 goals, 6 cones and 2 balls.

Players: In each playing area two teams of three, a feeder player marked in grey opposite the goal and a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Actively encourage dribbling.
  • Use the full width when in possession.
  • The defenders are forced to press immediately.
Drill 4

1 vs 1 up to 4 vs 4

25 min30 x 20 metres
  • Every game starts with a 1 vs 1.
  • The task is to dribble through a goal on the opposite side or to pass along the ground through it.
  • After a goal or after the ball goes out over the goal line or the touchline, one more player from each team moves into the playing area — making it 2 vs 2, 3 vs 3 and finally 4 vs 4.
  • To do so, the new player of the team entitled to the ball dribbles in.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area; eight tall cones form four goals.

Equipment: 8 tall cones, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of four players each.

Coaching points
  • Look for the 1 vs 1 bravely.
  • Get past the opponent with a change of pace and a feint.
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