Practice: Attack in wide areas

WHY USE IT

This opposed practice puts players into realistic situations where they can practice specific patterns to help them find ways in which they can get the ball into wide areas.

SET UP

Use a rectangular area with a goal and goalkeeper at one end and two gates at the other end. Split players into two teams and play a GK-4-1 against an attacking team playing 2-3-1. The attacking team starts with the ball.

HOW TO PLAY

Play starts with one of the two defensive midfielders. The attacking team are then encouraged to find specific patterns to get the ball into a wide area. In this instance, the defensive midfielders combine before passing into the wide player, who then plays back to the attacking midfielder. The attacking midfielder then plays a ball out wide for the wide player to run onto and cross the ball. Should the defending team win the ball they look to play it through one of the two gates.

Coaching points

The movement of the wide player to drag the defender with them, before spinning off to receive the pass in the space behind. Weight and area of pass from attacking midfielder to allow the wide player to run onto the ball and deliver a cross. Timing and area of runs from the forward and the other wide player to meet the cross.