5 v 3 Play, A Contrast in Styles
Jonas Holdeman
Knoxville, Tennessee
January 1992
This training organization offers opportunities to demonstrate and coach two contrasting styles of play. While it incorporates all of the elements of smaller group tactics, it goes further into the area of team tactics.
Introduction. The exercise may be conducted in one quarter of a regular field. The players are constrained to this area. There are no goals; this is a game of possession. The team of 5 is limited to two consecutive touches of the ball (which means they cannot dribble), while the team of 3 has unlimited touches. If a member of the team of 5 touches the ball more than two times in succession, the ball is given to the opposing team.
Start with free play; with only these rules as instruction, the teams are allowed to play as they try to work out a system for success. The coach will, from time to time, stop play and add new tactical elements.
The rule constraints demand, and the play subsequently demonstrates, two contrasting styles of play. Limited to two touches, the team of 5 will have to play a passing game to maintain possession, while the team of 3 is allowed by the rules and forced by the superior numbers of the defense, to play a dribbling and passing game. The group of 5 will be successful with a high pressure man-to-man defense, while the group of 3, outnumbered, will be forced into a low pressure zone defense (unless the opposition has very low skills).
Terminology. We will use standard tactical terminology. The player with the ball and playing the ball is called the "first attacker." A teammate nearby with whom he can combine play is designated the "second attacker." A third teammate who can influence play by runs into space or movement which destroys the balance of the defense is termed the "third attacker." The defensive player putting pressure on the ball is designated the "first defender." The nearby teammate providing immediate support is called the "second defender." A teammate who provides balance to the defense and who can provide pressure if the point of attack is changed is called the "third defender."
Coaching points for each individual.
1. Continually look around and be aware of team mates and opponents, both nearby and away.
2. Having used two touches, a member of the team of 5 may shield the ball (in playing distance) while a teammate comes to assist (with a takeover).
3. A player receiving the ball need not stop it, but may allow it to roll, while staying in playing distance (shielding if necessary) and looking around.
Defensive play, group of 5. On defense, the group of 5 uses high pressure to win the ball. The two attackers off the ball are to be marked tightly, man-to-man, to deny the player with the ball the opportunity to pass to the feet of a teammate. The first attacker's only options left are to dribble and pass to space. To beat the dribble, two defenders are required, one to pressure the ball and one to win the ball if the attacker attempts to go around the first defender. These two allow and force the dribbler to move away toward a boundary line or corner, where no longer able to retreat to relieve pressure, the ball can be won. While shepherding the player with the ball toward the boundary, the two defenders, by their position, also control the space into which the ball may be passed. If the first attacker can be pressured sufficiently hard, he will not be able to look up to find his teammates or to find space other than that ahead. The fifth defensive player seeks to control the remaining space into which the attacker may pass.
The transition from attack to defense requires discipline. When the ball is lost, the two nearest players must quickly mark the two opponents off the ball. They should position themselves so they can see the ball and their opponent, while denying space for a pass to their opponent's feet. As their teammates pressure the ball, limiting the space into which the ball can be passed, they should also position themselves so they can be first to a ball passed into space. All the while, their opponent will be moving, trying to break free. The need to respond quickly to their opponent's feints and runs into space require the expenditure of a great deal of energy; man-to-man defense is quite demanding. This training exercise is very demanding, and will develop fitness in the defenders over a period of time.
If the first attacker is able to complete a pass, the defense must be quickly reorganized. A common error is to turn toward the ball, forgetting to mark closely the opponent who just made the pass and who is probably moving into space to receive a return pass if needed.
Attacking play, group of 3. The player of the group of 3 who gains possession of the ball, becoming the first attacker, does so either under pressure, or with no pressure. If he wins the ball under pressure, he seeks to relieve the pressure by dribbling away into space, or by passing to a teammate. If he hasn't anticipated well, he must look up and find space and his teammates. If this can be done quickly, he can exploit any weakness in his opponent's speed of transition to defense. Until the defense organizes, there will likely be only one pressuring defender. Thus there is a third option open; to dribble at and beat that defender.
If the first attacker is not under pressure, he should hold or move the ball to draw defenders towards himself, so that his teammates have more space to move. At the same time his two teammates should try to find space away from him, but with open passing lanes to the space. Because the three will ultimately be outnumbered around the ball, a long pass is better than a short pass, because it demands more time for the opposition to reorganize. The attackers off the ball should be very mobile, alternately creating space, than using the space. Mobility demands a high work rate from opponents, ultimately wearing them down.
Attacking play, group of 5. With limited touches, the 5 cannot dribble and must play a passing game. When receiving the ball, if it cannot be played away immediately but must be controlled, the first touch must also prepare the ball for the next pass. Apart from the skill to do this under pressure, the attacker must also constantly be aware of his support. Players off the ball must constantly anticipate the needs of the first attacker and move early to provide support.
Upon winning the ball, two teammates of the first attacker should move in quickly to provide targets for short passes, while the other two attackers should find space for long passes. If only one defender pressures the ball, the three should play a game of 3 v 1, where the two supporting players off the ball move to open passing angles. When pressured by a second defender, then at least one attacker must be open for a long pass. When a long pass is made, two teammates must move quickly into short pass range while two others move for long passes. If the first attacker uses his two touches and is under pressure, he must shield the ball while a teammate comes in for a takeover.
Defending play, group of 3. Long targets off the ball must be marked, but marked in a loose zone. If a succession of long passes is allowed, the defense will be worn down chasing after the ball. A long ground ball is easy to intercept. A long lofted ball is difficult to control, and the defender should be prepared for a tackle as soon as the controlling touch is made. Defending against the short play is more difficult, as the defense is outnumbered. The defender should move at an easy pace so as not to wear himself down. He should curve his path of approach to the ball to deny the pass to one supporting attacker, making play predictable. At the same time, he should watch for mistakes in which case he moves in quickly to tackle. He can frequently force mistakes by a feint, suggesting that he is going to tackle.
Summary. The team tactics must be related to the concepts of possession and penetration in a real game. The lessons learned in 5v3 play must be incorporated in a real game, where directionality provided by the goals is reestablished. Players must not be allowed to get real good at the 5v3 game without realizing the significance of the tactics learned as applied to the real game.