Build-up from goalkeepers and defenders

centre back BALL POSSESSION

We set up in a rectangle, 34m x 44m with three zones: 14m, 16m, and 14m in width. We have two teams of six players (red team and blue team): four in the intermediate zone and one at each end.

The yellow team has five players: four centre backs, two at each end, and one midfielder in the intermediate zone, playing with the team in possession. We also have two green players, one at each end, playing for the team trying to recover the ball.

The team in possession, with the help of the yellow players, circulates the ball on two touches. The yellow centre backs and the yellow central midfielder play for the team in possession, with no touch restrictions [1a].

The green players, upon recovering the ball, must pass it to the team that was defending [1b] or to a yellow player and join the forward of the team that lost it for a new defensive action [1c].

[1a]

1. Blues in possession

2. Blues circulate ball with support of yellow players

3. The in possession team are limited to two touches

4. Reds look to win the ball back, with the support of the green players, one stationed at each end

[1b]

1. The greens win the ball back

2. In this example, the green player passes to the defending (red) team who now become the in possession team, working alongside the yellows

3. The greens are now working alongside the blues, now the defending team

[1c]

1. In this example, the green player passes to a yellow after having won the ball

2. The green players now play with the reds, now out of possession

BUILD-UP GAME WITH ZONES

We set up in an area roughly three-quarters of the pitch length and 40m wide, across the penalty area, with zones marked at 20m, 25m, and again at 20m.

We have two teams of nine players (red and blue), organised with one goalkeeper, two defenders, three midfielders and three forwards, plus one yellow (neutral) midfielder. In this exercise, in order to prioritise build-up play through the goalkeeper and defenders, the midfielders do not drop deep. The forwards can drop deep to exploit the space behind the midfielders. Whenever the ball enters a new zone, the attacking team moves freely to create numerical superiority [2a]. When the defending team recovers the ball, roles are reversed [2b].

[2a]

1. Blue team attacking
2. Blue team can move freely to create numerical advantage
3. Two red forwards drop into intermediate zone to help defend
4. Red midfielders do not drop deep

[2b]

1. When red team intercept, roles are reversed
2. Two blue forwards move into intermediate zone
3. Red attackers can move freely

BUILD-UP PLAY

We set up in half a pitch plus 30m, with a dotted line 10m in front of the halfway line.

Here the red team is organised in GK+4+3+3 with the three forwards positioned beyond the line. The blue team is organised in GK+4+4+2 with the midfielders and forwards in front of the line and two of the four defenders and the goalkeeper behind in defence of their goal.

Each repetition consists of two distinct actions.

The first begins with a goal kick, where the goalkeeper starts the build-up, without opposition, with the objective of getting the ball to one of the forwards [3a].

In the second action, the coach plays a ball to one of the blue players who, after passing to the goalkeeper, starts a new attack, this time with opposition [3b].

The red team, upon recovering the ball, attacks the opposition goal [3c].

[3a]

1. Blue goalkeeper starts the build-up, without opposition, with the objective of getting the ball to one of the forwards

[3b]

1. Coach plays a ball to one of the blue players

2. Blue player passes to goalkeeper

3. Blues start a new attack with opposition ​

[3c]

1. When reds win the ball, they launch attack towards opposition goal

ATTACKING ORGANISATION

We set up on half a pitch plus 30m, with the halfway line diving the two spaces. The dotted lines here mark the initial positioning of the defenders, and also indicate the zones for the rest of the activity.

The blue team are organised in a GK+4+4+2 system, with the two centre backs and two central midfielders in their own half, and the two full-backs, two wingers and two forwards in the opposition half. The red team are also organised in GK+4+4+2, with the defensive line and midfield line in their own half and the two forwards in the attacking half.        

We play to match rules within these parameters. Here the blue team plays with numerical superiority in their own defensive half, thus promoting build-up play through the goalkeeper and defenders [4].

[4]

1. Blues play with numerical superiority in their own defensive zone, thus promoting build-up play through the goalkeeper and defenders

2. Blues launch an attack and look to score