Gafferbook
Build-up play ยท U12 to adult

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 adultAges
8 to 10 plus a keeperPlayers
Defensive halfArea
15 to 20 minsTime

Your assistant coach: turn this drill into a full session, plan the weeks around it and tell me how it went.

โž• Put it in tonight's session๐Ÿ—“ Build my season around itโœ๏ธ Make my own version

Set-up

  • Keeper, two centre-backs, two full-backs, one holding midfielder.
  • Three pressers. Two mini goals on halfway, one on each side.

Equipment: Cones, balls, two mini goals, bibs

How it works

  1. Keeper starts. Build out and pass into a mini goal: one point.
  2. Pressers who win it shoot at the big goal.
  3. Coach restarts with the keeper after every attack.

Coaching points

  • Centre-backs split wide; full-backs push high.
  • Holding midfielder drops to make a back three when pressed by two.
  • Play through the side the press isn't coming from.

Formations this drill suits

3-2-1 (7v7) drills3-1-2 (7v7) drills3-3-2 (9v9) drills3-2-3 (9v9) drills2-4-2 (9v9) drills3-4-1 (9v9) drills4-3-3 (11v11) drills3-5-2 (11v11) drills4-4-2 (11v11) drills4-2-3-1 (11v11) drills3-4-3 (11v11) drills

Add this drill to a session plan โ†’

Make it easier

  • Two pressers

Make it harder

  • Four pressers
  • Mini goals only count after a pass through the midfielder

AttackersDefendersKeeper / neutral- - โ†’ Passโ†’ Runใ€ฐโ†’ Dribble

Questions about this drill?

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