Warm-up: Breaking lines

WHY USE IT

Develops players’ ability and awareness to play forward passes that break defensive lines.

Set up

Mark out a playing area relative to the age and ability of your players. You may need two or three pitches depending on numbers. Start with two defenders in the middle of the area and six attacking players around the outside – one at each end and two on each side.

How to play

The aim is for attacking players to progress the ball from one end player to the other. The two players on the same sideline cannot pass to each other. If an attacking player loses possession, either to a defender or by passing the ball out of play, they swap roles with a defender. Defenders cannot be in the same half of the pitch.

Play two-touch to start.

Progressions/adaptations

You can challenge players further by playing one-touch. You can also change the dimensions of the playing area to increase or decrease the challenge, or add an extra defender to make it more difficult. You can also encourage rotation of the attacking players.

Coaching points

• Movement
• Scanning
• Ball speed
• Breaking lines
• Composed passing
• First touch
• Read the game
• Find the free player