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Their midfielder has the ball with time to look up. Our back four drop a few yards to protect the space behind.
Drawn for 11v11 4-4-2. Pick your own format and shape and every step is redrawn for your players. Then present it or send it to your team.
Step by step Their midfielder has the ball with time to look up. Our back four drop a few yards to protect the space behind. Dropped together. Now our midfielder presses the ball. Under pressure, they pass backwards. That's the signal: the whole line steps up together. Stepped up. Their strikers are left offside and the team is compact again. When to use it Every time you defend. It matters most against teams with quick strikers or good passers.
Coaching points Watch the ball: is the passer pressed or free? Free passer, head up: drop a few yards to protect the space behind. Pressed passer or a backwards pass: step up together. One player calls it (usually a centre-back or the keeper): 'drop' or 'up'. Stay in a line; the furthest defender sets offside for everyone. Who does what Position Their job Centre-backs Read the passer and call the line. Full-backs Stay level with the centre-backs; don't drop deeper on their own. Midfielders Press the ball so the line can step up. Keeper Starts high enough to sweep behind the line.
When they change it If they… You… Their striker keeps running in behind Drop a step earlier, and the keeper starts higher. They play long from deep Drop as the passer winds up, then attack the ball. They play short in front of the line Midfielders press; the line steps up behind them.
Common mistakes One defender dropping while the others step up: everyone's onside. Stepping up while the passer has all the time in the world. Nobody calling it. At 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11
7v7 Two or three defenders: the same idea. Offside rules vary in younger formats, so the main aim is staying together.
9v9 A back three holds its line the same way.
11v11 The board: a 4-4-2 back four reading the passer. See the full 11v11 4-4-2 formation guide for the shape, positions and drills.
Drills to practise it Questions coaches ask When should a defensive line step up? When the ball goes backwards, or when the player on the ball is under pressure and can't pass behind you.
When should it drop? When the passer has time and space to look up and play a ball over the top.
Who controls the defensive line? Usually a centre-back or the keeper, who calls 'up' or 'drop'.
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