Practice 2: Out from the back

WHY USE IT

Players are now placed in an environment that provides them with similar situations they will come across in a game. This allows them to work on a number of aspects of playing out from the back, in particular decision making.

SET UP

Set up a pitch relevant to your players, with a channel down each side. In each channel is a player from the team that starts with the ball - no other players are allowed within these channels. An additional area is set out just in front of one of the goals, with a player from each team locked inside.

HOW TO PLAY

Play always starts with the goalkeeper, who plays out to one of their team-mates. This team then looks to play the ball into their striker, locked inside the additional area. On receiving, the striker attempts to score a goal. If the other team wins the ball, they attack their opponents’ goal as they would in a game.

Progression: Opposition players are allowed to enter the channels.

COACHING POINTS

Players are encouraged to use their team-mates within the channels to help progress up the pitch quickly. They also need to recognise when one side of the pitch is congested; they should then look to move the ball to the other side as quickly as possible.