Annual training plan · U9–U13

Week 35: 2 vs 1 & Up-Back-Through Combinations

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

Even though the main focus in small-sided football should be on technical and individual tactical development, the basics of group tactics can be refined from U12/U13 onwards. In the first half of the season, many different 1 vs 1 situations were already trained. Both defending and playing with the ball were covered. This week, the situation is extended by one defender and one attacker – the attacking 2 vs 2 is on the training plan.

For an attacking 2 vs 2 in the centre, in which both defenders are still between the ball and their own goal, there are no textbook solutions for the two attackers. The situation can be solved with a passing combination or a dribble.

But even when the player on the ball tries to solve the situation with a dribble, what his team-mate does is decisive. His task is to create space for the player on the ball so that he can win a 1 vs 1. If, for example, the player on the ball dribbles in from the left towards the centre, his team-mate can run diagonally in behind from right to left. This opens up the route into the centre for the player on the ball. If the 2nd defender does not follow the player running in behind, the player on the ball can find him and join the attack again immediately with a change of pace.

Another way to solve the 2 vs 2 is a one-two. Here, the player on the ball dribbles at one defender. As soon as the dribbler is close enough to the defender and he stops or even steps forward, the pass is played. The team-mate is found with a firm pass to the foot furthest from the opponent. The decisive factor for a successful one-two is a change of pace. As soon as the player on the ball releases the pass, he makes an explosive burst in behind. The player receiving the pass plays the return first time if possible. It is important that the ball is played onto the front foot or into the run of the team-mate so that no pace is lost.

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

Regardless of whether a small-sided game is played as 2 vs 2, 3 vs 3 or 4 vs 4, the game consists, in a sense, of several 1 vs 1 situations. Only when an opponent is beaten can an overload be created. Probably the simplest way of getting into an overload situation is to win an attacking 1 vs 1.

The team-mates can support the player on the ball by tying up other opponents and creating space. Firstly, this can be done by making use of the size of the pitch. The opponents are tied up across the width and in depth, which gives the player on the ball a lot of space behind their opponent.

If the opposing players are already defending in a very ball-orientated way and providing good cover behind their team-mates, other solutions are needed. Here, active movement to get free can help to tie up the covering opponents and pull them out of position.

Coaching points for this session
  • Pass & move
  • Go past the opponent with a feint & a change of pace
  • Preferably go into 1 vs 1 situations when there is enough space and the player can face the direction of play
  • Occupy opponents (make use of the pitch size, active movement to get free)
Drill 1

Passing with Coordination II

15 min
  • The drill starts with passing using two touches.
  • The level of difficulty is then increased: a tennis ball comes into play.
  • Player 1 passes the football, Player 2 throws the tennis ball at the same time.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the positions; the distance depends on the ability level of the players.

Equipment: Cones, footballs and tennis balls.

Players: Two players per station.

Coaching points
  • Make sure that the players drop back slightly again after every pass in order to move towards the next pass.
  • If the players carry out the task, demand a higher tempo in the passing.
Drill 2

Small-Sided Game - 2 vs 1 Overload

25 min15 x 12 metres
  • The game begins as a 2 vs 1.
  • As soon as a goal is scored or the ball goes out of play, a new player comes into the area and one player of the team with the overload leaves it.
  • This creates a 2 vs 1 for the new team.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the playing area; two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones and several balls.

Players: The players stand behind the goals; plus goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Watch for a quick, purposeful use of the overload.
  • Demand hard, placed finishes.
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

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.
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

Today's session starts with a passing drill for the through ball and lay-off. A player further forward receives the ball and lays it off to the team-mate following up. In this passing drill, pay attention to a match-realistic tempo and to following up quickly.

The through ball and lay-off can also be helpful in 2 vs 2 situations. If, for example, a defender of your team who has the ball is closed down by an opposing attacker, that defender can play a firm pass to a team-mate in midfield. Even if that team-mate has an opponent behind them. As the opposing attacker is moving forwards while closing down, the defender can easily run past the attacker after the pass. The midfielder receiving the pass simply plays the lay-off with the foot furthest from the opponent. In this way, the 2 vs 2 has been turned into a 2 vs 1 situation.

Afterwards, an attack is played out in a 2 vs 1 in a match-realistic way. Here, too, the through ball and lay-off can be used.

In the 3rd drill, this week's training focus, the 2 vs 2, is then trained again. At the start, a 3 vs 3 plus 1 is played in a marked-out area before a forward pass initiates the 2 vs 2. To make this drill match-realistic, you can also play with additional recovering defenders. They can turn equal numbers into a numerical disadvantage for the attackers. So urge your attackers to complete the attack quickly.

Coaching points for this session
  • Complete attacks quickly
  • Pass & move
  • Through ball–lay-off play: commit the opponent sufficiently, firm pass, change of pace, play the lay-off with the foot furthest from the opponent
Drill 1

Passing as a Warm-Up

15 min
  • Player A starts with a pass to Player B and takes up Player B's position.
  • Player B plays on to Player C and takes over Player C's position.
  • Player C plays the ball to Player D, who plays it back into Player C's run.
  • Player C plays on to Player E; Player C takes over Player D's position, Player D takes over Player E's.
  • Player E plays on to Player F, who lays the ball into Player E's run.
  • Player E plays into the run of Player G, who dribbles with the ball back to station A.
  • Player E takes over Player F's position, Player F takes over Player G's.

Note: In the first rounds the drill is carried out slowly and with two touches. Once the players have internalised the running paths, the balls may also be played first time and the pace increased.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Seven cones mark positions A to G.

Equipment: 7 cones and several balls.

Players: The players spread out evenly across the positions.

Coaching points
  • Player C shows for the ball in an open body position, plays a firm pass and follows the ball immediately after passing.
  • Player E plays the ball forward with enough pace.
  • Player G shows for the ball in an open position and takes the ball straight into the stride.
  • Demand communication.
  • Pay attention to a match-realistic pace.
Drill 2

2 vs 1 after a Lay-Off

20 min
  • An attacker starts with the ball at the top edge of the area and dribbles into the area.
  • The second attacker breaks away from behind the opponent and shows for the ball.
  • The two attackers try to score a goal in the 2 vs 1.
  • At first the defender is only semi-active; after a few rounds the defender becomes fully active.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Mark out an area in front of the goal with cones; play starts at the top edge of the area.

Equipment: Cones, 1 goal, balls.

Players: 2 attackers and 1 defender per round. The goal is occupied by a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Move out of the dribbling path of the team-mate.
  • Dribble at the opponent and tie the opponent up.
  • Make a change of pace after a pass.
  • Play the attack out to the end quickly.
Drill 3

3 vs 3 + 1 to 2 vs 2 in Behind

20 min
  • After four passes, the team in possession tries to play out of the square with a pass in behind in order to score a goal.
  • Depending on the coach's instruction, one, two or three attackers may follow up immediately; defenders may not leave the square.
  • Once the ball has been played out of the square, the two defenders at the goal area may intervene actively.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones form a square on the halfway line.

Equipment: 4 cones, bibs, at least 1 ball and 1 full-size goal.

Players: Two teams of three and one neutral player, who plays with the team in possession, are in the square. Two defenders are in the penalty area.

Coaching points
  • Pay attention to tempo inside the square as well.
  • The defenders wait for the attackers while on the move.
  • Get to the finish as quickly as possible.
Drill 4

4 vs 4 with Dribbling Goals

25 min
  • Free play to dribbling goals.
  • Each team plays to two goals. This allows the play to be made wide, which creates more space for dribbling.
  • The focus is on dribbling and on the 1 vs 1.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark out the playing area, eight cones of a different colour form the dribbling goals, which are two to three metres wide.

Equipment: 12 cones and at least 1 ball.

Players: Two teams of four players each.

Coaching points
  • If necessary, limit the number of passes in order to force more dribbles and 1 vs 1 situations.
  • Go into the dribble decisively.
  • Run with the ball using the foot furthest from the opponent.
  • Mix in feints again and again.
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