Playing through the opposition low/mid block

This session is designed to develop key in possession attacking principles which the team will need to use in important periods of a game, looking to break down the opposition when they are attempting to slow the attacking team down and regroup into a low or mid block. 

We start with a leading practice which encourages the in possession team to create triangles and supporting angles, and then to positioning themselves for the counter press if they lose the ball. We then move on to the main part of the session which focuses on the same key principles, before finishing with a full size game in which we want to see the principles in practice.

Every coach, myself included, has been in the position of knowing what the opposition is going to do and setting up a tactic to try to stop them, yet having this tactic overcome by the quality of the opponent. This session, therefore, is not just technical and tactical, but also psychological. The impact your team will have in being able to play through an opponent’s block and create opportunities to score and convert will build confidence in the team.

It’s understandable that at the top level of professional sport there is importance placed on winning, however, for me, the more efficient a team is when in possession of the ball, the better opportunities they will have to create chances to score and win games.  It is important that players are given the confidence in training to lose the ball when trying to play through the opposition block because it is extremely high risk, but extremely high reward. 

On a Sunday-to-Sunday week, we would likely run this session on a Match Day -2. If there is a match midweek, it may be an option to use a small section of the session on Match Day -1 or -2 days, depending on the outcome required. 

Leading practice

We set up an area of 30x30 yards, split into four squares. We’re using nine outfield players, five red players and four blue players. 

The practice replicates a team building the attack from the right-hand side. Four blue players face three red players in the middle. The other two red players act as target players at opposite ends of the area. They can move along the side as needed.

One of the red target players starts with the ball – they replicate a defender building from the back, while the other target player acts as a forward. 

The defender must play the ball into the red team who are encouraged to create passing triangles to receive, make forward off the ball runs, offer supporting angles for the player on the ball, open body shape on the half turn in order to maximise passing vision and, if the passing lane is blocked, rotate into different positions to create mini overloads.

The red players in the square must receive in one of the two attacking areas in order to play into the forward and get a point, as shown [1a]. Once this has been done, the red team then look to work the ball back another way to get another point.

[1a]

1. The red target player starts with the ball at the bottom of the area

2. The red closest to them makes a run to receive the ball

3. The other two red players rotate, with one receiving the ball in one of the attacking zones

4. This player plays the ball on to the other target player to win a point

The blue team must look to win the ball back and, if they do, keep it. Once they’ve lost the ball, the red team must win it back within eight seconds – this time limit increases the chance of scoring in a real game as it means the opponent is more likely to be unbalanced, leaving more space to exploit. To win the ball back quickly, the team should position themselves in counter-pressing areas, with the closest player to the ball putting immediate pressure on it, and a teammate rotating into the position this player has vacated to secure the unit, as shown [1b]. 

[1b]

1. The red team now try to work the ball the other way to win another point

2. The blue team gain possession and look to retain it

3. The reds position themselves for the counter-press, with the player closest to the ball pressing as quickly as possible

4. This player wins the ball and plays it to the target player to win a point

MAIN PRACTICE

We set up an area of 45x40 yards, split into five lanes, a middle lane of 15 yards, two lanes of 10 yards, and two outer lanes of five yards. There are three goals at the top of the area and two at the bottom of the area, as shown.

We’re using 14 outfield players and one goalkeeper. The red team play with a goalkeeper and six outfield players – a striker, two wingers, an attacking midfielder and two central midfielders – the blue team play with eight outfield players. 

The ball starts with the red goalkeeper. A ball playing goalkeeper is critical for any team wanting to control possession as it allows more options for outfield players to create passing and receiving overloads in attacking areas. The red team must score a goal in one of the mini goals, by exploiting the right, as shown [2a], the left, as shown [2b], or the centre, as shown, [2c]. They do this by creating overloads, playing quickly to limit the opponent being settled in their defensive block and creating passing options forward, rather than sideways.

[2a]

1. The goalkeeper plays the ball to the right-sided central midfielder

2. The attacking midfielder makes a run, while the left-sided central midfielder fills the hole vacated by the attacking midfielder to become the central link player and receives the ball

3. The winger fixes the defender by pulling wide

4. The link player plays the ball to the attacking midfielder who plays it on to the striker, who has moved onto the shoulder of the defender

5. The striker finishes in a mini goal

[2b]

1. The goalkeeper plays the ball to the left-sided central midfielder

2. The attacking midfielder makes a run, while the right-sided central midfielder fills the hole vacated by the attacking midfielder to become the central link player and receives the ball

3. The winger fixes the defender by pulling wide

4. The link player plays the ball to the attacking midfielder who plays it on to the striker, who has moved onto the shoulder of the defender

5. The striker finishes in a mini goal

[2c]

1. The goalkeeper plays the ball to the right-sided central midfielder

2. The striker moves into a position between both central defenders

3. The attacking midfielder moves into the area in the lines between the spare central defender and the defensive midfield unit

4. The wingers pull wide

5. The midfielder plays the ball to the attacking midfielder, who plays a through ball for the striker to run onto and score

The blue team must look to win the ball back, if they do, they should quickly transition to score in either of the mini goals. The reds must position themselves in areas for the counter-press to win the ball back quickly. The closest player to the ball must put immediate pressure on it, and a teammate should rotate into the position this player has vacated to secure the unit, as shown [2d].

[2d]

1. Play starts with the goalkeeper who plays it to the right-sided central midfielder

2. The attacking midfielder receives the ball in the central area, but is dispossessed by the pressing blue

3. The blue plays the ball forward

4. The reds position themselves to counter-press and the nearest red to the ball presses and wins the ball back, leading to a goal

11V11 GAME

We set up on a full pitch and play 11v11. The red team are set up with an attacking advantage, in a hybrid 4-3-3/4-4-2, while the blue team is set up in a defensive 4-3-4-1 to replicate the low and mid blocks.

The red team must look to use some of the combinations used in the Leading practice and the Main practice to get attacking success, exploiting the right, left, or central areas, as shown [3].

[3]

1. The coach plays the ball into a blue player in the box

2. Blues and the two neutrals combine to make four passes

3. The blue player then transfers the ball to an attacker outside of the box

What are the key things to look out for?

Players must be able to pass and receive in tight areas where they may only have a window of five to 10 yards to play though. It’s important to stress how player movement to create a passing opportunity benefits a team because, in my opinion, the majority of turn overs seen in games are a result of players having limited options on the ball and the opponent working well to block passing lanes. 

Players need to recognise when to stay still in a position if they have five to 10 yards of free space around them, or when to rotate and move into a different position if they are being marked by an opponent.  

It’s important to stress that the five-to-10-yard pass has to be of exceptional quality. Another thing to stress is that team mates have to support each other on the counter press if possession is lost. 

What are the typical mistakes players might make and how can they be avoided?

Players will lose possession trying to play through the opposition as this is high risk, however as a coach you have to have faith and trust in them. Good players are problem solvers and when you give them licence to make mistakes with the task at hand, they will find a solution for you. 

If necessary, simplify areas of play in the beginning to build confidence to then progress to the level you want the players to achieve.