Find the spare player to play out

Patterns

We set up in an area 18 yds x 18 yds, with mannequins, flats and poles set out as shown. We use a minimum of eight players. The ball starts with a player outside who passes to the player in between the poles. They receive and play the ball forward. The ball is played inside to the central player; as the ball is travelling, the central player moves off the mannequin to then bounce it out diagonally.

The ball is then played through, to the player between the poles, who receives on the half turn and plays centrally, before being bounced out diagonally. Each player follows the pass they play. The ball then returns to its starting position and the sequence runs again [1a].

[1a] 

1. Players on the outside should take two touches, while the central players on the mannequins should take one touch to bounce out

2. The ball into the players between the poles should be of high speed and quality as it replicates breaking a line

3. When receiving the ball between the poles, players should be on the half turn, preparing them to play forward, and should scan before receiving

4. The central bounce players should be timing their run off the mannequin well, and we ask that they do it with pace

5. Each player follows the pass they play

Players on the outside should take two touches, while the central players on the mannequins should take one touch to bounce out. All players should be on their toes, alive to what’s coming next.

We’re looking for detail on the pass. More specifically the ball into the players between the poles should be of high speed and quality as it replicates breaking a line. When receiving the ball between the poles, players should be on the half turn, preparing them to play forward, and should scan before receiving. The central bounce players should be timing their run off the mannequin well, and we ask that they do it with pace.

Speed is the key; we don’t mind if players make a mistake as long as they do this quickly.

Once we’ve gone through the pattern a number of times, we change the direction, running the same pattern the other way round.

As a progression, we incorporate one-twos, asking every player except the bounce player to play a one-two before playing on. Players continue to follow their pass and rotate positions [1b].

[1b] 

1. The attacking team look to eliminate the midfield line

2. We’re looking for coordinated movement to disrupt the opposition to create options to receive between or behind the lines

PHASE OF PLAY 

We set up in an area 45 yards wide and 60 yards in length, with a goal at each end and mannequins set up as shown.

We start with one team of ten, set up with nine outfield players in a 4-1-3-1, plus a goalkeeper and a striker on the opposing team to run the practice through. 

The ball starts with the coach, who plays the goalkeeper. The opposing striker closes the goalkeeper down, forcing them one way. The goalkeeper plays the ball to one of the two centre backs who have dropped deep to support.

The centre back plays the centre defensive midfielder, the pivot player, who then bounces the ball to the goalkeeper or the other centre back. The team now progress up the pitch, limited to two touches [2a]. We rotate the team off on, so both teams have
a chance to run through the practice unopposed. We always play to a finish.

We then progress into the opposed version of the practice. The in-possession team set up with 10 outfield players in a 4-2-3-1, with two centre defensive midfielders, or pivot players, able to receive from the goalkeeper.

[2a] 

1. The ball starts with the coach, who plays the goalkeeper

2. The opposing striker closes the goalkeeper down, forcing them one way

3. The goalkeeper plays the ball to one of the two centre backs, who have dropped to the corners of the six-yard box

4. The centre defensive midfielder times their run to receive from the centre back, then bounces to the spare player

5. One wing back pushes high, while the other tucks in to form a back three to play out

6. The team progress up the pitch, limited to two touches

7. Play to a finish

We start with two strikers pressing to further develop the combinations between the goalkeeper, centre backs and centre defensive midfielders. One striker presses the goalkeeper, while the other presses one of the centre backs [2b].

We progress to bring on six more players for the opposition, they are now set up in a 2-4-2 [2c]. The same principles and aims now apply for the in-possession team and they are challenged to use the same solutions, seeking to find the spare player, to find success further up the pitch too.

Progressing the practice in this way, adding in more defenders as we progress, allows us to work on different areas of the pitch and different details, before adding in another layer.

One further progression might be to use a 10v8 possession game. Play only takes place up to the mannequins, once the in-possession team progress past the mannequins they are through on goal without any challenge. 

The in-possession team must get a certain number of before they are allowed to score. The out of possession team is pressing to score.

Throughout, we are looking for the centre backs should drop to the corner of the six-yard box, with an open body shape so they are ready to receive to play forward. The centre defensive midfielders should drop down, timing their run so they arrive in time to bounce and use the spare player. One of the 10s rolls in, while one full-back pushes up to create space. The other full-back comes in, compact with the centre backs, and they are able to play out together.

We ask the team to be brave and play out through the 6s, and to entice the press to allow them to identify the spare player.

We don’t want players to force it: if playing forward isn’t on we can start again.

[2b] 

1. One striker presses the goalkeeper, the other presses one of the centre backs

2. The two central defensive midfielders drop in to provide options for the bounce to the spare player

3. Play progresses to a finish

[2c] 

1. The in-possession team continues to apply the same principles and movements

2. This time they use the goalkeeper a second time to go back and work their way out

GAME

We set up in an area 45 yards wide and 60 yards in length, with a goal at each end. We play 10v10, including goalkeepers, with both teams set up in a 4-2-3. We encourage an aggressive press, with the nearest player to press the goalkeeper every time.

Both teams work to include what they have been practising throughout the session, enticing the press, being brave under pressure, moving and creating overloads, and finding and using the spare player [3].

[3]

1. Both teams set up in a 4-2-3 formation

2. The nearest player presses the goalkeeper

3. Players are challenged to use the solutions they worked on in the previous two sessions in the game

4. The other two of the front three press the centre backs

5. The centre defensive midfielders drop in to receive and find the spare player on the bounce