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.
Your assistant coach: turn this drill into a full session, plan the weeks around it and tell me how it went.
Set-up
- Two midfielders and a pivot in one half, one or two defenders.
- Two mini-goals on the far side, 30 m away.
Equipment: Cones, mini-goals, balls
How it works
- Three short passes in the near corner to pull defenders across.
- Pivot receives and switches long into a far mini-goal (or a runner).
- Players rotate one position after every rep.
Coaching points
- Short passes to pull them in.
- Pivot: open up before the ball arrives.
- Long pass: lock your ankle, strike through the middle.
Add this drill to a session plan โ
Make it easier
- No defenders
Make it harder
- Switch must be first time
AttackersDefendersKeeper / neutral- - โ Passโ Runใฐโ Dribble
Free AI coaching help from Gafferbook. Ask anything about coaching your team.
More build-up play drills
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.
See the drill โRetreat 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.
See the drill โSplit 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.
See the drill โGoal 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.
See the drill โKeeper 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.
See the drill โBeat 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.
See the drill โ