This document contains details from a presentation by Portuguese soccer coach Carlos Carvalhal on defensive transition training drills. It describes 5 drills focused on improving a team's ability to recover possession immediately after losing it. Each drill is explained in terms of setup, objectives, and critical success factors such as reacting quickly, maintaining compact defensive shape, and transitioning between offense and defense. The concluding thoughts emphasize that defensive transition is difficult to train but important to master, as recovering the ball right after losing it often leads to goals. Players must learn to both directly pursue the ball and occupy spaces depending on the situation.

1. CARLOS CARVALHAL
!
Defensive Transition
Portuguese Soccer Coaches Forum!
2013!

2. Carlos Carvalhal
Nationality: Portuguese;
Education: UEFA Pro; Physical Education
Degree - Speciality High Performance in Soccer;
Titles: 1 League Cup (Portugal);
Finalist: Portugal Cup and Portugal SuperCup;
Clubs Managed: Sp. Espinho; D. Aves; Leixões; V. Setúbal;
Belenenses; Sp. Braga; Beira-Mar; Asteras Tripolis;
Marítimo; Sporting CP; Besiktas e Istambul BB.

3. TRAINING DRILL #1
“8v2 with 5 teams of 2 players”
Description:
In a 10x10 meters square field, we play an 8v2 match involving 5 teams of
2 players each. To get out of the “middle” the two players try to recover
and deliver to an outside player. The outside players try to circulate the ball
playing one touch. Whoever lost possession tries to recover immediately.
Critical Success Factors:
Offensive Organization: widen the field and circulate the ball;
Offensive Transition: win possession and make the field wide;
Defensive Transition: try to recover possession as soon as lost - team that
loses possession must react rapidly.

4. TRAINING DRILL #1
“8v2 with 5 teams of 2 players”

5. Description:
The coach plays the ball near the edge of the box and
the player shoots on first touch; as soon as the player
shoots he tries to prevent the player from the other line
from shooting. This action is repeated. The objective is
to improve the reacting capacity after shooting.
Critical Success Factors:
Shoot and react.
TRAINING DRILL #2
“1v1+Keeper with Defensive Transition”

6. TRAINING DRILL #2
“1v1+Keeper with Defensive Transition”

7. Description:
Field divided into 2 equal rectangles. Play 3v3 two touch game in one
half of the field with the support of 4 external players. If the defending
team recovers possession in the opponent’s field they try to keep it as
they move to their own half. The team who lost possession in their own
half try recover it before the opponent moves into their own half.
Critical Success Factors:
Provide feedback during the Defensive Transition;
Direct the drill to its objective;
As soon as possession is lost attempt to recover it.
TRAINING DRILL #3
“3v3 with 4 external supporting players”

8. TRAINING DRILL #3
“3v3 with 4 external supporting players”

9. Description:
Two touch game. Team that makes 6 consecutive passes score a point. A
goal is worth 3 points. Team must react immediately upon losing
possession. Keeper is included in the passes count. Offside starting at the
edge of box.
Critical Success Factors:
Persist upon losing possession;
Constant pressure;
Compact defensively, and connected offensively;
High intensity.
TRAINING DRILL #4
“Keeper+5v5+Keeper”

10. TRAINING DRILL #4
“Keeper+5v5+Keeper”

11. Description:
3 attackers try to score vs. 2 defenders and a Keeper. Ball carrier must attack nearest
defender, isolate him and then pass the ball. Right after this they change functions
and become defenders, covering the 2 mini-goals at midfield facing 4 opponents.
Critical Success Factors:
Don’t have to react fast to possession lost, pressuring, if we are unbalanced and
unable to do pressure;
React strongly to the space to be occupied;
After finishing, when switching functions, become compact and protect the two
goals;
Understand the moment they must recover possession or recover the spaces quickly.
TRAINING DRILL #5
“3v2+Keeper & 4v3+2 mini-goals”

12. TRAINING DRILL #5
“3v2+Keeper & 4v3+2 mini-goals”

13. FINAL THOUGHTS (1 of 2)
Defensive Transition, the moment a team loses possession, is
very difficult to train, requiring more detailed training. Players
must be individually trained to transform those skills into
collective. All players must have the same reaction in the game
in this moment;
The Defensive Transition may not imply the immediate attempt
to recover the ball;
The key is the reaction speed to the possession loss. It may be
recovering possession, but it may also be to occupy the
spaces.

14. FINAL THOUGHTS (2 of 2)
There are moments when it’s not possible to recover possession
immediately, e.g. when there are too many defensive players after the
ball;
The players must master some fundamental aspects of this critical
moment;
Critical moment of the game. We are opening up the game while the
opponent is narrowing the field becoming more compact. It’s a moment
of change where there are unbalances as we lose possession;
Recovering the ball right after losing possession, we find the opponent
transitioning from defense to offense, and when possession is recovered
in that moment there are a lot of goals.

15. Reviews:
!
“Detailed
Analysis”
!
“Best. Read.
Ever.”
!
“Five Stars”
Subjects:
!
Tactical
Periodization
!
Game Model
!
Football
(Soccer)
Training
TACTICAL
PERIODIZATION
A Practical Application for the Game Model
of the
FC Bayern Munich of Jupp Heynckes (2013-14)
By
!
PEDRO MENDONÇA
Originally published in Portuguese
Translated to English and Edited by Tony Almeida
English version Co-Edited by Courtney Almeida