Practice 2: Playing it out

Why use it

This practice provides repetitions of playing out from the back, with reward available on transition.

Set up

Mark out an area relative to the age, ability and number of your players. You need a goal at one end and a channel marked out at the other. Set up with a 7v5 – one player from each team starts outside the area at the end with the channel marked out.

How to play

The goalkeeper always starts with the ball. The aim is for the player starting outside of the area to receive the ball in the top channel, by playing out from the back. If the opposing team wins possession, they can score in the goal.

Progressions/adaptations

You can introduce a touch limit. You can also introduce gates in wide areas for the defenders to dribble through as an additional way to score via playing out from the back.

Coaching points

Encourage players to be patient in possession and play the pass they see. Players should scan and receive with an open body to allow them to play forward where possible. Encourage quick combination play in central areas and a switch of play via the centre-backs. Timing of movement is also important, especially for the player receiving the ball in the top channel.