Table of Contents

Introduction 05 12 - Alternate 2 + 2 v 4 with 27

goalkeepers (2)
About this second part 10

01 - Cycle passing pattern (1) 12

02 - Cycle passing pattern (2) 13

03 - 03 - Cycle passing pattern 14

under pressure (1)

04 - Cycle passing pattern under 16 13 - Cycle passing pattern (3) 29

pressure (2)
14 - Cycle passing pattern under 30
05 - Alternate cycle passing 17 pressure (3)
patterns under pressure
15 - Passing and movements 31
06 - 2 + 2 v 4 with goalkeeper 19 pattern of play to finish (2)

07-Alternate 2 + 2 v 4 with 20 16 - 4 v 3 and 2 v 4 with 33

goalkeepers goalkeeper (1)

08 - Cycle passing patterns under 22 17 - 4 v 3 and 2 v 4 with 34

pressure (3) goalkeeper (2)

09 - Cycle passing patterns under 23 18 - 4 v 3 and 2 v 4 with 36

pressure to finish goalkeeper and counter-attacks

19 - Alternate 4+3 v 1 37

20 - Alternate 4+3 v 1 with 39

goalkeepers

21 - Alternate 4 v 3 with 40
goalkeepers (1)

10 - Passing and movements 24 22 - Alternate 4 v 3 with 42

pattern of play to finish (1) goalkeepers (2)

11 - 2 + 2 v 4 with goalkeeper (2) 26 23 - Cycle passing pattern (4) 43

24 - Cycle passing pattern battle (1) 45 34 - Cycle passing pattern (5) 60

35 - Cycle passing pattern battle (2) 62

36 - Alternate cycle passing 63

pattern battle to finish with
goalkeeper

37 - Cycle passing pattern (6) 65

25 - Cycle passing pattern under 46 38 - Alternate cycle passing 66

pressure (4) pattern battle to finish with
goalkeepers
26 - Cycle passing pattern under 48
pressure and counter-attacks 39 - Passing and movements 68
pattern of play to finish (3)
27 - Cycle passing pattern under 49
pressure with goalkeeper and 40 - 3 v 3 and 3 v 4 with 69
counter-attacks goalkeeper

28 - 3 v 3 + 4 v 1 (1 v 2) 51

29 - 4 v 1 and 1 v 4 (+3) with 52

goalkeepers

30 - 4 v 1 and 1 v 4 + 3 v 3 with 54
goalkeepers (1)

31 - 4 v 1 and 1 v 4 + 3 v 3 with 55 41 - Alternate 3 v 0 and 3 v 4 with 71

goalkeepers (2) goalkeepers

32 - Double 4 v 4 and goalkeepers 57 42 - Alternate 3 v 0 and 3 v 4 with 72

(1) goalkeepers and counter attacks

43 - 3 v 3 and double 3 v 4 with 74

goalkeepers (1)

44 - 3 v 3 and double 3 v 4 with 75

goalkeepers (2)

The Author 77
33 - Double 4 v 4 and goalkeepers (2) 59
 ITALIAN TRAINING CONCEPTS - PART 5

About this second part

This second volume is about the small groups and teams principles to play in between
the lines:

5. Cut a defending line of 4 opponents by dropping back among them and receiving
a pass behind them (4) after a triangle combination (1-3).

6. Cut 2 defending lines of 4 + 3 opponents by running between them and receiving

a pass behind the last defense line (4) after a triangle combination (1-3).

7. Cut 2 defending lines of 4 + 3 opponents by dropping back, running between them

and receiving a pass behind the last defense line (4) after a triangle combination
(1-3).

8. Cut 2 defending lines of 4 + 3 opponents by dropping back, running between them

and receiving a pass behind the last defense line (4) after a triangle combination
(1-3).

The players must be coached through small groups practices when in possession first,
before talking about tactical developments from a team or playing situations points
of view; these are the main themes of this second volume.
The aims of all exercises are to allow the players practicing on:

1. To loose the markers as a sector of a team: to receive away from the markers at
the same time to provide options to the ball carrier, to lose them while controlling
the ball or to be an option for a second pass, or create pattern of play being under
pressure.

2. Ball control and defense and move off the ball: receive the ball with the right
body shape and position to play the next pass or to finish and move with the right
direction and type of run to be a further option for the ball carrier.

3. Passing, receiving and unpredictability: pass forward on the run of an unmarked

or better positioned teammate or toward him while dropping back if he has time
to receive and he can play a decisive further pass, receiving with the front foot or
the back foot.

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 PLAYING BETWEEN THE LINES 2 - BERTOLINI

The final goal is to make the players ready to develop the main possession team
principles to play between the lines:

1. Penetration: disorganize the opponent’s defense, creating greater risk and giving
continuity to the attacking move, placing the players into positional advantage
situations that allow the attackers to move into suitable spaces (over and among
the opponents), through 1 v 1 or overload duels, to progress toward the goal or
the bottom line with the final aim to finish.

2. Depth: attacking movements “at the back” of the last defender, to disorganize
and to open the opposition defensive shape, creating new playing spaces to
proceed with the offensive move towards the opposite goal and/or to enable
other teammates to move themselves into effective spaces to finish.

3. Mobility: initiative of the attacking players without possession to look for best
positions, with the right timing to receive a pass and to progress the attacking
move.

Note: Despite this eBook has possession and attacking developments coaching
objectives, defensive indications on how to press, to provide coverage and balance
and on how to recover the ball are given as Coaching Points.

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 ITALIAN TRAINING CONCEPTS - PART 5

01 - Cycle passing pattern (1)

Setup
20 x 15 m rectangle (4 m distance among the mannequins), 16 cones, 4 mannequins,
4 players.

Sequence
• The rectangular space is divided into 3 parts and the mannequins are placed along
the center third; they are positioned as a back 4 defense line.
• A has the possession of the ball on the left part of the lower third of the space and
he carries out a passing sequence with the teammate C on the right side (1-2).
• Once A receives the back pass, he passes to B, who is dropping back from the
upper center area, between the mannequins (as between a center back and a
fullback) - (3).
• B receives and he passes back again to A (4); as A controls the ball, he passes
forward between the center back and the fullback in front of him and C must
receive over the mannequins line and inside the center upper area (5).
• C then turns and he passes back to D to start a new sequence (6).
• The positions rotate as follow: A > C, B behind D and C is already placed inside the
center area inside the upper third.
• All the passes must be on the ground.
• The sequence must be carried out starting from the opposite side and toward the
opposite direction.

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 ITALIAN TRAINING CONCEPTS - PART 5

08 - Cycle passing patterns under pressure (3)

Setup
20 x 20 m overlaying squares, 8 cones, 8 players, 2 colors vests.

Sequence
• The overlaying squares shape 4 corners inside each of them; each team has its
possession corners (blue team plays on the white square and the white team on
the yellow one); C has he possession on the upper right corner, in the picture.
• Every 2 side passes (1 - 2), the first player in possession of the 3 (C) must drop back
(3) between the E and G to receive a forward pass (3).
• Once C receives, he must pass back to the teammate B on the opposite corner (4),
who receives and passes forward again through the opposite space (between G
and H) and A must run forward along the path between G and E to receive behind
them (5).
• A passes the ball to D on the opposite left corner and the next sequence starts
from him.
• The defenders must be passive, pressing but not tackling.
• All the passes must be on the ground.
• Change the teams roles and positions after a fix limit of time (ex. every 3’); the
white team must be placed on the yellow corners before playing.
• The positions rotate as follow: A > C, B > A, C > B.

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 PLAYING BETWEEN THE LINES 2 - BERTOLINI

37 - Cycle passing pattern (6)

Setup
30 x 10 m outer area, 10 cones (16 m between the lower and the upper area), 3 lines
with 10 mannequins (5 m away among them and 8 m distance between the lines), 8
players.

Sequence
• The players are placed along the width of the areas and the players with the ball
starts from opposite corners of the lower and upper areas (A and E).
• A and E have the possession and they start dribbling toward the center (1).
• They pass forward toward the dropping back teammates (C and G), who are coming
from the reciprocal upper areas and between the center backs mannequins,
receiving between the lines. Meanwhile B and H run forward and sideways the
first line of mannequins, as first countermovement (2).
• As C and G receive, B and H move toward the center to receive from the opposite
teammates; B receives from C and H receives from E (3).
• The players who started the sequence, A and E, must now arch their runs, sideways the
mannequins lines, to receive a diagonal pass inside the upper area; E receives from H and
A receives from B (4). This passes must cut off 2 lines of mannequins, through the center.
• A and E must dribble the ball from one side to the other of their upper zones (5).
The sequence ends with a back pass to the new alternated starting positions
toward D and F, to create a new sequence from opposite corners (6).
• The players who follow their last pass, but the number 6, make the positions
rotations.

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 PLAYING BETWEEN THE LINES 2 - BERTOLINI

THE AUTHOR
Luca Bertolini
Founder and manager of www.lucamistercalcio.com,
blog of soccer coaching resources

COACHING SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES

• 2002 - 2015 - Head Coach of teams from U7 to U17 and
Head Coach of adult teams of GS Mercury
• 2015 - 2016 - Head Coach of U14 of ASDB Langhiranese
• 2016 - 2017 - Head Coach of U14B of AC Colorno
• 2017 - 2018 - Head Coach of U14 of AC Colorno
• 2018 - 2019 - Head Coach of U15 of AC Colorno

PUBLICATIONS
• The eBooks “Thinking Player”, “Create Finishing Chances and Score“ and “Indi-
vidual and Small Group Defense” for the Institute of Youth Soccer.
• “One Setup training Sessions” book for the World Class Coaching (Us)
• “Advanced player tactics and possession games Pack” for the Coaches Training
Room (Us)

EDUCATION
• Certificate of “Youth and School Soccer Players Coach” in 2006 degreed by FIGC
of Parma (Italian National Soccer Federation – Parma section).
• “UEFA B” degree in 2012 by FIGC – Techincal sector of Coverciano - Florence)
and by AIAC (Italian Union of soccer coaches).
• Coerver coaching 1st level (2011)
• 2nd and 3rd level of Coaching Calcio Italia (2015)

Luca Bertolini presenting at the Soccer Coach Convention 2017

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Italian Training Concepts Part 4
Playing Between the Lines - 1
Individual and small groups tactics

This first volume is about the basic individual and small groups principles to play in
between the lines:
1. Cut a line of two opponents dropping back paying attention to the timing of
relation between passer and receiver.
2. Cut a line of two opponents running forward and receiving in behind paying
attention to the timing of relation between passer and receiver.
3. Cut two lines of three opponents (defending triangles) dropping back among
them and how to manage the possession being outnumbered and under pressure.
4. Cut two lines of three opponents (defending triangles) running forward and
receiving in behind and how to manage the possession being outnumbered and
under pressure.
The players must be coached on individual tactics when in possession first, before
talking about tactical developments from a team or playing situation point of view,
which will be the main theme of the second volume.

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