ARTETA, 7X7X7 AND TRANSITION

🧠 1. Exercise description

Collective exercise focused on ball possession with numerical superiority (7v4), integrating the concept of offensive-defensive transition. In addition, it trains conservation in small spaces, mobility to create passing lines and reaction after ball loss, including a phase of organized pressure by zones.

🧩 2. Organization and development

• There are 3 teams of 7 players.

• The field is divided into 2 main possession zones and an intermediate strip (transition/defensive holding zone).

• In each phase of possession:

  • The offensive team plays with 4 players on the outside and 3 on the inside (7v4).

  • The 4 active defenders come from the central strip.

• After a certain number of passes (e.g. 5-6), the team in possession may change zones with a pass, which must pass over the intermediate strip.

• In the central strip, 3 defensive players wait to intercept or block passing lanes.

• When changing zones, these 3 players become the pressers, together with 1 additional player who repeats the pressure from the previous zone (4 defenders in total).

• If the defenders regain the ball in any of the phases, they can look to finish in lateral mini-goals, simulating a quick offensive transition.

🎯 4. Tips or main aspects

• 🧠 Reading spaces and making collective decisions to take advantage of superiority and find the right moment to change zones.

• 📐 Constant mobility and width of outside players to generate clean passing lanes.

• 🔄 Immediate transition to the defensive phase after loss: organized and balanced pressure.

• Accuracy in passing between zones, key to avoid interceptions in the central strip.

🔄 3. Variants

• 🔁 Modify the number of mandatory passes before changing zones.

• ⚙️ Limit the number of touches per player to increase technical difficulty.

• 📍 Vary the size of the center stripe to condition the sector change pass.

• 🔄 Rotate team roles periodically to ensure balanced participation.