Football: Diamond formation practice

Red team vs Blue team.

Set up a diamond midfield formation

2 strikers, 4 midfield, 4 defenders.

Set up cones as shown on the diagram

(3 sets of cones. 2 pairs before the top of the diamond numbered "1", one pair of cones lower down in the middle of the diamond numbered "2")

Works on the Defence channelling the ball into certain areas.

The 2 red team strikers try to stop the blue team from playing the ball through either of the "1" cones, so that play is encouraged into a central area (top of the diamond).

Once the blue player with the ball has reached the top of the diamond, players will looks to direct him outside of the "2" cones and into wide areas (occupied by the 2 red wide midfielders).

Red fullbacks need to recognise where the ball is going and move into an advanced wide position to put pressure on opposition's wide players.

By doing this the red team are attempting to dictate how the ball moves.

Play for half an hour.

This drill encourages players to work together in a Defensive unit and is especially relevant for midfield players.

Set up 3 areas in a line: 5 x 5 yards, 20 x 5 yards and another 5 x 5 yards

Opposite this, within shooting distance (about 15 yards), set up 4 goal areas in a line, marked by cones. The 2 inside goals will be used for the first game and then just the 2 outside goals will be used for the second game.

Have 1 player restricted to each of the 5 x 5 areas, and 2 players in the 20 x 5 area. The goal of these players is to pass amongst themselves to score (firstly in the goals marked "1" and then in the goals marked "2").

Against them will be 4 defenders who will need to work together to shut down these shooting opportunities, starting midway between the boxes and the goals.

The coach plays the ball to the Attackers, and at this time the Defenders will approach the Attackers. They cannot travel into the boxes but will use angles to try to stop a quick pass and shoot option.

Play 2 v 2 in the area furthest from goal and 2 v 3 in the defensive area around the goal. Make 2 small goals on the end line for the defense to play out through.

The attacking team (gold) in the area furthest from the goal, combine to play the ball into the two attackers in the opposite area. The two defenders in the area furthest from the goal attempt to intercept passes as they are played through. The three defenders in the defensive area mu st pressure the ball, marking tightly when close to the ball or goal. Defenders from the area furthest from the goal may enter into the defensive area to support the three defenders and to serve as midfield players for clearances from the back. If defenders intercept the ball, they should attempt to play the ball through either of the small goals at the bottom of the diagram.

Scatter 7 cones across the area. Groups of 12 consist of 2 catchers and 10 runners.

The object of the game is for the runners to run around the area to avoid being tagged by either catcher. Runners may run to safety by placing 1 foot on one of the 7 discs in the area. When a runner runs to a disc that is occupied, the player occupying the disc must move off the disc and look for another disc to occupy. If a player is tagged by a catcher, the 2 players exchange roles.

You can choose to introduce a ball so that players must dribble around the area.