3 v 3 when to dribble or when to pass for U10 and above

One of the reasons why I have stayed in this game so long is that I am constantly learning new things and I get excited about trying them out with the teams and coaches in my club. The exercise I am going to describe today was one I learned from a State Instructors Seminar run by my state DOC, Jacob Daniel, back in 2010. From the title, it sounds like a typical 3 v 3 game, but over the years, I have expanded it out to 7 v 7 and even larger. The great thing about it is that it can work with a U10 rec team as well as a high level select team.

The setup is simple, 3 players on a 15 x 25 yard grid with a 5 foot goal at each end. Depending on the size of your team, you can have up to 3 grids going at once in the first level. In a typical 3 v 3 setup, all of the players are moving and switching positions. In this game, there is one designated player who is the nominal GK. In a real game setup, this would be your #6 (defensive mid or holding mid), or possibly your #4 or 5 (center backs) player. In the first progression, this player is not pressured and cannot leave the area near the goal.

The other two players are working to get in a position to receive the ball from the GK and then combine or dribble penetrate to get the ball to the other team's GK. In order to receive the ball, the attackers have to create separation from the defenders by expanding, moving off the ball or switching positions. The GK for the attacking team controls the timing and type of entry pass that he makes to his teammates. Coaching points include seeing both the ball and the teammates; paying attention to body position when receiving the ball and the location of the entry pass (front foot, back foot, through ball).

Once the entry pass is made, the players need to then decide how to attack:

• There can be 2 or 3 player combinations. 
• Attackers can play the ball back to the GK to reset and relieve pressure. 
• A player can take on the defender 1 v 1. 

If the attack is successful, the attackers play the ball to the other team's GK. That movement earns their team 1 point. The opposing team immediately starts a counter attack using the same strategies. 

If the defending team wins the ball, they MUST play their own GK FIRST before attempting to score. This allows teams to develop a rhythm and spread out the defenders to get better attacking options. 

You can switch the GK as players tire or at specific intervals. 

Staying in this progression, you can reward combination play between the 2 attackers by giving them more points to score after a combination than after beating an opponent 1 v 1. 

The next progression involves switching the GK. Each time a player plays the ball back to the GK, the player who makes the pass, replaces the GK. The GK, upon receiving the ball, must make a positive touch to clear the space for the player replacing him. 

In the next progression, the players can choose to play the ball back to the GK and replace him or not replace him, creating a temporary 3 v 2 situation. The GK, upon receiving the ball can choose to attack any space on the field not protected by the defenders or use one of the attacking options already covered. Upon losing possession, one player MUST return to play GK. 

If you expand the field, you can add up to three additional attackers, a wide player on each side of the field and a forward who starts out on the opposing team's end line. As you add attackers, you can increase the responsibilities of these players as well. For example, in the first progression with two wing players, they cannot enter the pitch, but can only serve as combination players to the 2 attackers in the grid. They can receive service either from the GK or the two attackers. In the 2nd progression, they can enter the field as they switch with the player who passed them the ball. 

Adding the forward is the trickiest part, but it helps the forward to work on their timing and patience. Technically, they are coming from an offsides position, so a pass cannot be made directly to them while they are standing on the endline. Instead, that player can choose to enter the grid as he sees fit to unbalance the defenders and create combinations with the other attacking players. However, he must not linger on the pitch, especially when his team loses the ball or they are recycling the ball. It does encourage the forward to stretch the defense and to get into positions where the defenders cannot see him, to maximize his effectiveness. 

This game works best when you employ it over several sessions, adding progressions as they gain comfort with the structure of the activity. It helps with essentially every principle of attack and can be employed from the lowest level to the highest. 

Try it and let me know how it goes.