Playing out from the back drills
Future Fit's retreat line exists to help young teams play out. These practices give your keeper and defenders the confidence to do it.
Playing out from the back means the goalkeeper and defenders pass the ball out instead of kicking it long. Practise with an overload first (3v2), then even numbers, and teach players when to go long too.
Playing out from the back 3v2 (plus keeper)
The keeper and two defenders play out against two strikers and score by dribbling through a gate. The overload makes success likely, which builds the confidence to play out in games.
U9 to adult · 6 to 8 players · 15 to 20 mins
See the drill →Retreat line build-up game (Future Fit)
A match where, whenever a keeper has the ball, the other team must retreat behind the halfway (retreat) line. It mirrors Future Fit and 7v7 match rules and gives keepers time to play out.
U8 to U11 · 10 to 14 including keepers players · 20 mins
See the drill →Split centre-backs and the dropping midfielder
Centre-backs split to the edge of the box, the holding midfielder drops between them, and the team plays out against three pressers into one of two mini goals. The build-up most 11v11 and 9v9 teams use.
U12 to adult · 8 to 10 plus a keeper players · 15 to 20 mins
See the drill →Goal kick: short to the full-back
From a goal kick, the full-back receives wide and the team works the ball forward past a pressing winger. A reliable first pattern for teams learning to play out.
U10 to adult · 6 to 10 plus a keeper players · 15 mins
See the drill →Keeper to centre-back to the 6 (pivot turns)
The ball goes keeper to centre-back to the defensive midfielder, who turns and plays forward. Teaches the 6 to find space and turn against a pressing number 10.
U11 to adult · 6 to 10 plus a keeper players · 15 mins
See the drill →Beat the first line (4v3 plus keeper)
Four defenders and the keeper try to get the ball past three pressing attackers into a midfield target zone. Builds patience, angles and using the keeper as the spare player.
U10 to adult · 8 plus a keeper players · 15 mins
See the drill →Back three against a two-striker press
When two strikers press a back four, a midfielder drops in to form a back three and create a 3v2. Teaches a key adjustment for playing out.
U12 to adult · 7 to 10 plus a keeper players · 15 mins
See the drill →Build-up to midfield gates (6v4)
The defending team plays out to dribble or pass through gates in midfield, against four pressers. A phase of play that mirrors match build-up.
U11 to adult · 10 plus a keeper players · 15 to 20 mins
See the drill →Long ball and the second ball
When the press is too strong, the keeper plays long to a target striker and midfielders compete for the second ball. Teaches a sensible alternative to playing short.
U12 to adult · 8 to 14 plus a keeper players · 15 mins
See the drill →Find the free player
Build-up with one more player than the pressers: the team must find and use the free player to progress. Teaches players to spot the overload, not just the nearest pass.
U10 to adult · 9 to 13 plus a keeper players · 15 mins
See the drill →Inverted full-back build-up
A full-back steps inside into midfield during build-up, creating an extra central player while the winger holds the width. A modern 11v11 pattern for older teams.
U14 to adult · 8 to 12 plus a keeper players · 15 mins
See the drill →Keeper roll-out and support angles (5v5)
The keeper rolls the ball out to a defender who has moved wide, and teammates make angles to help play forward. A first build-up practice for mini-soccer.
U7 to U10 · 5 to 10 plus a keeper players · 10 to 15 mins
See the drill →The 6 drops between the centre-backs
The holding midfielder drops between the centre-backs to make a back three, letting the full-backs push up. Teaches a common way to play out against a front two.
U12 to adult · 7 to 10 plus a keeper players · 15 mins
See the drill →Vertical pass and lay-off out of pressure
A centre-back splits the press with a pass into the striker, who lays off to a midfielder facing forward. Teaches the fastest way through a high press.
U11 to adult · 8 to 12 plus a keeper players · 15 mins
See the drill →Switch across the back line
When one side is pressed, the back line moves the ball across through the centre-backs (and keeper) to the free full-back. Teaches composure and quick ball circulation.
U11 to adult · 6 to 10 plus a keeper players · 12 to 15 mins
See the drill →Progressive build-up waves (3v2, 4v3, 5v4)
Build-up starts as 3v2; each time the team succeeds, another attacker and defender join. Players learn to keep the spare player as the numbers grow.
U10 to adult · 9 to 15 plus a keeper players · 15 to 20 mins
See the drill →Escape the wide trap
The full-back is pressed near the touchline; the winger, midfielder and centre-back rotate to give escape routes. Teaches teams not to panic when trapped wide.
U12 to adult · 6 to 9 plus a keeper players · 15 mins
See the drill →Box midfield build-up (2+2)
Two holding midfielders and two attacking midfielders form a box to overload the middle in build-up. Teaches a central overload for teams who like to play through the middle.
U13 to adult · 8 to 12 plus a keeper players · 15 mins
See the drill →Centre-back step-in (carry the ball forward)
When there's space in front, the centre-back carries the ball into midfield to draw a presser and free a teammate. Teaches defenders to be brave on the ball.
U11 to adult · 6 to 10 plus a keeper players · 12 mins
See the drill →Phase of play: 7v6 build-up with counter goals
A realistic build-up phase: the keeper and six players try to play out and through to two mini goals at halfway, against six pressers who attack the main goal if they win it.
U12 to adult · 13 plus a keeper players · 20 mins
See the drill →Centre-backs: find the free goal
Two centre-backs pass between them and play into a midfielder, who sets it back. A defender guards one of two mini-goals; the centre-back must spot the open one and play into it. Builds the habit of looking up before receiving.
U11 to adult · 4 to 6 players · 12 mins
See the drill →Holding midfielder: always be diagonal
The keeper and centre-backs move the ball; the holding midfielder keeps moving so they're always on a diagonal from the ball. On the call, they get it and play forward. Teaches the six to make themselves available.
U11 to adult · 5 to 7 plus a keeper players · 12 mins
See the drill →Full-back: receive, drive, combine
A full-back receives from the centre-back, drives forward and combines with the winger against a defender to get to the byline or into a mini-goal. Builds attacking confidence in wide defenders.
U11 to adult · 4 to 8 players · 12 mins
See the drill →Number 10: find the pocket and turn
An attacking midfielder works in the space between two screening defenders, receives, turns and plays forward within a few seconds. Builds the bravery and body shape to play between the lines.
U11 to adult · 5 to 8 players · 12 mins
See the drill →Short to go long: switch through the pivot
Midfielders combine short in one corner to draw pressure, then the pivot switches the ball long to the far side. Teaches when to play short and when to go long.
U12 to adult · 6 to 10 players · 15 mins
See the drill →Building a session?
Tell the free session planner your age group, numbers and what to work on, and it builds a full session from drills like these.
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