Three drills for playing out from the back

Teenage teams often panic when the goalkeeper has the ball, and they kick it long. Playing out from the back keeps the ball, and it makes better footballers in every position.

These three drills build on each other. Run them in order, on one half of a pitch, in about 45 minutes.

1. Rondo: four against one

Four players stand on the corners of a square about 10 steps across. One defender starts in the middle. The four keep the ball away from the defender.

• Two touches each: one to control, one to pass.
• Once they're comfortable, make it 5v2 in a bigger square.
• Count passes. Ten in a row is a point.

Coach it: open your body to the next pass before the ball arrives. Receive on the foot furthest from the defender.

2. Split and build from the goalkeeper

The goalkeeper starts with the ball. Two centre-backs split wide towards the touchlines. A midfielder drops in to give a third option. Two strikers try to stop the build-up.

• The strikers start passive, then press for real after a few goes.
• The midfielder scores a point by turning and dribbling past the halfway line.
• If the strikers win the ball, they shoot at the big goal.
• Rotate the centre-backs and the midfielder often.

Coach it: check your shoulder before the ball comes. If the pass forward isn't on, play it back to the keeper.

3. Play it out to halfway

Now add full-backs and make it a game. The back four and goalkeeper, plus one midfielder, play against three attackers.

• The building team scores by dribbling over halfway with the ball under control.
• The attackers score by winning the ball and shooting at the big goal.
• Play for four minutes, then rotate the attackers.

Coach it: make the pitch big when you have the ball. Full-backs go high and wide. Centre-backs spread out.

Do it in Sportdify

Add the session to the week's schedule, so players know when and where before they turn up.

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