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Patterns of play ยท U11 to adult

4-4-2 strike partnership: one short, one long

Two strikers work as a pair: one comes short for the ball, the other spins in behind. The partnership at the heart of 4-4-2, 3-5-2 and 9v9 3-3-2.

U11 to adultAges
6 to 10 plus a keeperPlayers
Final thirdArea
15 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

  • Two strikers on the edge of the final third, a central midfielder with balls, keeper in goal.
  • Two centre-backs (cones, then live defenders).

Equipment: Cones, balls, goal

How it works

  1. Midfielder looks up; one striker checks short, the other runs long.
  2. Option 1: pass to the short striker, who lays off and the midfielder plays the long runner in.
  3. Option 2: straight ball over the top to the long runner.
  4. Add two defenders: strikers must read which option is on.

Coaching points

  • Never both short, never both long.
  • Short striker: body side-on, lay it off first time.
  • Long striker: curve your run to stay onside.

Formations this drill suits

2-2 (5v5) drills3-1-2 (7v7) drills3-3-2 (9v9) drills2-4-2 (9v9) drills3-5-2 (11v11) drills4-4-2 (11v11) drills

Add this drill to a session plan โ†’

Make it easier

  • Static defenders
  • Coach calls which option

Make it harder

  • Live 2v2 plus the midfielder
  • Five-second limit

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

Questions about this drill?

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