WORLD CLASS COACHING
Build Up From the Back - Exercises 2
By Luca Bertolini
Table of Contents
PART THREE
Small-Sided Games and Exercises
Play out through the center (zonal duels)
Exercise 18: 5 + 1 + gk v 5
Set-up and Sequence: 1 goalkeeper, 2 center backs, 1 dropping back red free player (midfielder) are placed inside or just out of the penalty area. A 2 v 2 duel between couples of midfielders is played inside the center zone, in front of the penalty area. A 1 v 1 duel is played inside the outer area along the flank, at the corner of penalty area. All the players are active inside their areas only.
The goalkeeper is in possession, and the goal is to play quick passing combinations from him to the balance player to build up or to play out and distribute along the flank that is involved in the sequence (the left one in the picture).
The direction of the move has to be switched to the opposite side through the 2 v 2 + 1 duel; the red midfielder must now play as vertex at the top of the middle zone. The center back must receive the ball to pass to the goalkeeper to simulate the play out sequence.
The opposition forwards inside the penalty area must press and try to force the direction of play toward the opposite flank, when the center backs are in possession; or even to press the center midfielder, when in possession, to face the goal and to finish quickly in case of recovery of the ball. The center yellow players must do the same to prevent the combinations switching the side of play. The outer yellow player must put strong pressure against the receiver, as he is the only one with 1 opponent to face.
If the defenders win the ball, a 5+1 v 5+gk duel is created; the red free player supports the defenders now.
Variation: 1 yellow player runs outside to create a 2 v 1duel to recover the possession.
Eye on: be placed on different lines and shape different triangles to play one-touch quick diagonal passes to switch the side, quick passing combination through the center.
Exercise 19: 6 + 1 + gk v 6 (1)
Set-up and Sequence: 1 goalkeeper, 2 center backs, 1 dropping back red free player (midfielder) are placed inside or just out of the penalty area. A 2 v 2 duel between couples of midfielders is played inside the center zone, in front of the penalty area. A 1 v 1 duel is played inside the outer area along the flank, at the corner of penalty area. All the players are active inside their areas only.
The goalkeeper is in possession, and the goal is to play quick passing combinations from him to the balance player to build up or play out and to distribute along the flank that is involved in the sequence (the right one in the picture).
The direction of the move has to be switched to the opposite side through the 2 v 2 + 1 duel; the red midfielder must now play as vertex at the top of the middle zone. The center back must receive the ball to pass to the goalkeeper to simulate the play out sequence.
The opposition forwards inside the penalty area must press and try to force the direction of play toward the opposite flank, when the center backs are in possession; or even to press the center midfielder, when in possession to face the goal and to finish quickly in case of recovery of the ball. The center yellow players must do the same to prevent the combinations to switch the side of play. The outer yellow player must put strong pressure against the receiver, as he is the only one with 1 opponent to face.
If the defenders win the ball, a 6+1 v 6+gk duel is created; the red free player supports the new team in possession now.
Variation: 1 yellow player runs outside to create a 2 v 1duel to recover the possession.
Eye on: be placed on different lines and shape different triangles to play one-touch quick diagonal passes to switch the side, quick passing combination through the center.
Exercise 20: 6+1+gk v 6 (2)
Set-up and Sequence: 1 goalkeeper, 2 center backs, 1 dropping back red free player (midfielder) are placed inside or just out of the penalty area. A 2 v 2 duel between couples of midfielders is played inside the center zone, in front of the penalty area, at the beginning. A 1 v 1 duel is played inside the outer areas along the flanks, at the corner of penalty area.
The goalkeeper is in possession, and the goal is to play quick passing combinations from him to the balance player to build up or play out and distribute along the flank that is involved in the sequence (the right one in the picture).
The side and the area of play is overloaded by one possession midfielder and a defending midfielder creating a 2 v 2 duel; the fullback must be a support behind them and the center midfielder must be a support from the center area, where a 1+1 v 2 duel is played to manage the possession, to play back to the second center back and to the goalkeeper in the end, to play out again on the same side or toward the opposite side.
The opposition forwards inside the penalty area must press and try to force the direction of play toward the opposite flank, when the center backs are in possession; or even to press the center midfielder, when in possession to face the goal and to finish quickly in case of recovery of the ball. The center yellow players try to prevent the combinations to switch the side of play. The outer yellow players must put strong pressure against the receiver to win the ball back.
If the defenders win the ball, a 6+1 v 6+gk duel is created; the red free player supports the defenders now.
Variation: 1 more yellow player runs outside to create a numerical advantage for the defenders 3 v 2 duel to recover the possession.
Eye on: be placed on different lines and shape different triangles to play one-touch quick diagonal passes to switch the side, quick passing combination on the flank under pressure, synchronized runs to put pressure.
Play out through the center (specific small-sided game)
Exercise 21: 2 v 2 + 1
Set-up and Sequence: a 2 v 2 + 1 duel is played inside the center rectangle, in front of the penalty area. 2 black players are the midfielders of the possession team; the red one plays as balance midfielder.
The objective is to overcome the line of pressure of the defenders through a dropping back movement to receive a first pass and then a forward movement to receive the return pass before playing toward the second midfielder. The players are always asked to overcome the line of pressure at every passing combination.
If the yellow players win the possession, they have the objective facing the goal area.
Variation: if the defenders win the ball, a 2+1 v 2 possession game is created inside the center area.
Eye on: quick passing combinations to overcome the first line of pressure, press the ball carrier or close the passing lanes toward the free player to prevent the break through passing combination.
Build up from the back switching the side (zonal duels)
Exercise 22: 6 + 1 + gk v 6 (3)
Set-up and Sequence: A half of a regular field is required for this practice. The goalkeeper is in possession inside the penalty area, 1 v 1 duels are played on the flanks at the bottom and at the top of the game space and 2 + 1 v 2 is played in the middle area.
The goalkeeper is in possession, and the goal is to play quick passing combinations from him to the wide center back along one flank (the right one in the picture) and then to switch the side and the area of play forward (on the left in the picture), through the 2 + 1 v 2 duels in the middle zone.
As the fullback receives he must turn, he has to pass the center back who is supporting the move and the goalkeeper receive to play out on the other or the same side.
The opposition yellow players must press the opponents as equal number of players is ensured on the flanks. The yellow players must close the passing lanes toward the opposite side and force the direction of play toward the same side where the ball comes from.
If the defenders win the possession, they play the same way toward the goal and they can finish from the center zone in front of the penalty area.
Variation: if the defenders win the ball, a 6+1 v 6+gk possession game is created. The red free player supports the new team in possession now.
Eye on: pass from the flanks using the middle players as link players to switch the side.
