Route one: playing direct, done well

Step by step

1. Keeper goes long to the striker. As it travels, the midfielders sprint up to support.
2. The striker wins the header and knocks it down. Our runners are closer to the second ball than theirs.
3. Second ball won. Play it into the runner in behind and attack before they reset.

When to use it

On poor pitches, against a high defensive line, in the wind, or late in a game when you need a goal. It's best used as one option among others, not every time.

Coaching points

• Aim for an area, not just "up the pitch": the striker's chest, or the space behind their full-back.
• Midfielders sprint to support as the ball travels, ready for the knock-down or the loose ball.
• Win the second ball: most long passes are contested, so the team with more players around the landing spot usually gets it.
• Keep the defence pushed up behind it, so the second ball lands among your players, not theirs.

With younger players

For U7 to U10, most leagues want the ball played out with retreat lines and small pitches, and long balls rarely help children learn. Keep direct play as one option for older groups.