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Creating space through movement in 5v5

This exercise will help your players position themselves well in space to offer support to the ball carrier. Many variations are possible with additional cognitive aspects.

Mark out an area of about 30x35m and then place 9 small squares of 2 different colors within the area (see diagram for more details). Then form 2 teams of 5 players. If you have more than 10 players at practice, you can enlarge the area or create a second area for the additional players.

The exercise will proceed as follows:

The team in possession of the ball must keep the ball as long as possible while scoring points by making a pass into a square of the color of their team.
The defending team must win back the ball by pressing the opposing team and minimizing passing angles.
Once the ball is recovered, the roles reverse.
It is important for players to position themselves well in space to constantly offer options to the ball carrier, while keeping an eye on the finishing squares.

Here are some variations you can implement during this exercise:

Reverse the colors: the blues score in the yellow squares, and vice versa. This will add an additional cognitive aspect to this exercise.
A point is scored when a player crosses a square.
The central square earns double points.

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It is well known that soccer is a sport that combines strategy, technique, and tactics. To excel, it is not enough to have good physical condition or solid technical skills, but also a deep tactical understanding.

Among these tactics, the intervals play a crucial role because indeed, knowing how to find and exploit them can make the difference between a successful attack and a missed opportunity.

In this article, we will explore what intervals are in soccer, how to find and exploit them so that your players improve on this tactical point.

What are intervals in soccer?

Intervals in soccer refer to the open spaces between opposing players. These spaces are key areas that attacking players seek to exploit to create opportunities for passes, dribbles, or shots. Intervals can be found between defenders, between the lines of defense and midfield, or in more advanced areas of the field. The ability to spot and use these spaces is often what distinguishes great players from good players.

The understanding of intervals relies on good game awareness. Players must constantly analyze the positions of opponents and their teammates to identify areas where they can move or pass the ball. This is a skill that requires not only exceptional vision but also quick decision-making.

How to work on playing in the intervals in soccer?

Working on intervals begins with improving game awareness and tactical understanding. Coaches should encourage players to keep their heads up and constantly analyze the field.

Here are some methods to develop this skill:

Video analysis: watching games and analyzing player movements can help understand how intervals are created and exploited. Players can study professional matches to see how they use spaces;
Small-sided games: games in reduced spaces force players to find and use intervals because they have less time and space to make decisions. This improves their ability to react quickly and exploit the smallest available spaces;
Communication and coordination: good communication between players is essential to find and exploit intervals. Players must learn to talk to each other and coordinate to create fluid movements and precise passes.

What interval exercises to set up in training?

To improve your players' ability to find and exploit intervals, several specific exercises can be set up during your training sessions:

The square exercise: four players are placed at the corners of a square and two defenders in the center. The players at the corners must circulate the ball quickly without being intercepted, using the intervals to create passing angles;
Positional games: these exercises focus on ball possession and space creation. For example, a 6 vs. 6 where the objective is to keep the ball moving and constantly look for intervals to progress on the field;
Half-field exercise: exercise on half a field with teams in numerical advantage (like a 7 vs. 4) allows working on the creation and exploitation of intervals. The team with the numerical advantage must use the intervals to progress and score;
Rondo with varying field size: by varying the field size during rondo exercises, players learn to adapt and find intervals in different contexts. The smaller the field, the quicker and more precise they must be in their decisions;
Passing exercises in motion: they involve players constantly moving and looking to get open to receive passes. The focus is on off-the-ball movement and searching for intervals to create passing opportunities.

The mastery of intervals in soccer is essential to improve team play and create offensive opportunities. By working on game awareness, communication, and using specific exercises, your players can develop this key skill and thus increase their effectiveness on the field.