A small sided game to improve the fundamentals of transitions phases. Specially the small behavior principles of players: react quickly to ball lost or ball gain. Basic elements of zonal defending, compactness and pressing as a unit. Flow of the ball (inside or outside), open space and reduce space. Designed by the idea of: "Do it simple, do it better".

1. Presents
The Exercise...
“In-and-out transitions”
“Keep your brain in the game”
Supported by
A performance of:
Paulo Sousa

2. “In-and-out transitions”
Supported by
“Keep your brain in the game”
Paulo Sousa
STRUCTURE Square
PLAYERS 4 (+2) x 4
DIMENSIONS 20 x 20 mts
TIME/REPS 2’00
REST 1’00
SETS 4
INTENSITY* High
COMPLEXITY Moderate
DIFFICULTY Hard
EFFORT PATERN
Intensive
Endurance
*Predicted level of physical intensityMATERIAL PER STATION/GROUP:
12 cones / 8-10 balls (avoid losing time and decrease of intensity)
4 sport bibs/vests (to distinguish teams) + other 2 different color
4
1
3
1
2
3
4
N
N
2
Outside area of
playing
Ball lost zone

3. “In-and-out transitions”
Supported by
“Keep your brain in the game”
Paulo Sousa
PLAYER’S IMPROVEMENT
 Quickness of reaction between offense/defense
 Force opposition to commit errors
 Open/reduce spaces according to ball possession
 Interior attack assistance (triangles) for neutral
TACTICAL ASPECTS TO IMPROVE
 Transitions (fundamentals: individual and group)
 Flow of the ball (between outside and inside)
 Compactness and pressing as a unit
 Zonal defending
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
 Red team (possession) keep the ball as long as it can
(counting points for every each 6 passes). Attackers
play outside the square and move along the side line
 Blue team (defending) defends through pressing, zonal
defense and compactness
 Transitions: if red team loses the ball has to react
quickly getting inside the square and avoid the way out
for blue team; If blue team wins the ball should open
lines of play and get outside the square, pass the ball to
one of the neutral (to earn point and initiate counting)

4. “In-and-out transitions”
Supported by
“Keep your brain in the game”
Paulo Sousa
SPECIFIC GOALS
 Enhancing difficulty
 Increasing intensity (more balls will be lost)
 Count extra point if “give-and-go” happens
between the same both players (pass-receive-pass)
SPECIFIC GOALS
 Develop confidence to maintain ball possession
(increasing the number of inside passing)
 Specificity of position roles (work by sectors)
 Enhance passing under pressure (neutral)
SECOND VARIATION DRILL
Train specificity (according to system of play) having
Striker and Central Midfielder as neutral players
Train specificity (according to type of game) having
the rule: at every three passes, one has to be an
inside pass (between outside player and neutral)
THIRD VARIATION DRILL
Use the mini-goals rule (space between the red
cones): the passes between inside-outside players
and outside-outside players are only allowed if ball ins
the mini-goal.

5. “In-and-out transitions”
Supported by
“Keep your brain in the game”
Paulo Sousa
WHYS OF THE EXERCISE
 Why outside player should stand quite distant from side line? He will have more time and space to decide
 Why is important neutral player been Strikers or Central Midfielders? To trained in specificity because they
will be under pressure in numerical disadvantage, thus expand confidence on having the ball and decision making
 Why is a small area of playing? Small areas increase the chance or times the ball will be lost/gain (transitions)
Intensity is seen like a relative parameter because it depends on perception and cognition to keep the game flowing
COACHING TIPS
 Look if outside player is following ball movement
 Stimulate defenders to keep grouped and move as
a block (pressing space)
 Be sure neutral player is deciding under pressure
 Help player to understand and preddict transitions
GENERAL FEEDBACKS
a) Move along the side line space and stay quite far
from the square limit lines (outside player)
b) React quickly to the ball lost and ball gain
c) Search open space after ball gained (pass or run)
d) Step inside immediately as soon as the ball is lost

6. “In-and-out transitions”
Supported by
“Keep your brain in the game”
Paulo Sousa
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Paulo Sousa
UEFA B Coach