PLAYING OUT

FROM THE BACK

AG E P H AS E : U 8 - U 1 1
AC A D E M Y COAC H S E R I E S C H E L S E A U N D E R -1 0 SESSION PLAN
SESSION OVERVIEW PLAYING OUT FROM THE BACK

LEVEL PART 3: KEY

BUILD-UP PLAY SMALL-SIDED GAME
• U8-U11 Ball movement
• This is a small-sided game that requires a minimum of
12 players and two goalkeepers. Player movement
SESSION OBJECTIVES • One team attempts to accumulate 8 passes and can without the ball
combine with both goalkeepers. The other team tries
To develop individuals’ technical skillsets and to steal possession and score as quickly as possible in Player movement
understanding of general attacking and defending either of the outside goals. with the ball
principles through:
• Practising dribbling, running with the ball, passing and
receiving in chaotic but unopposed scenarios
• Using small-scale, high pressure 3v2/4v2 situations in
Players
which players must try to find the spare player
• Incorporating frequent attacking and defensive
transition moments
Cones

PART 1: UNOPPOSED DRIBBLING/

PASSING PRACTICE Flat marker

• This practice requires a minimum of 18 players and

sees players have to negotiate ‘traffic’ while dribbling, Cones with
receiving and passing the ball. flat marker

PART 2: BUILD-UP PLAY WITH Goal

AN ATTACKING OVERLOAD
• This practice requires a minimum of seven players and Mini-goal
a goalkeeper. It can be replicated or altered if player
numbers dictate that this is necessary.
• Attacking players are in a build-up play situation against
two defenders, in which they can use the goalkeeper as Mannequin Pole
they seek to play forward.

Football

AC A D E M Y COAC H S E R I E S C H E L S E A U N D E R -1 0 AGE PHASE: U8-U11

UNOPPOSED
DRIBBLING/PASSING PLAYING OUT FROM THE BACK

FUNCTION 1

• This is a dribbling practice in which players move with

the ball through a chaotic central area of the grid,
negotiating heavy ‘traffic’.
• The 18 players are divided into three groups of six – A, B
and C – with each group then further split into two sets
of three and stationed by a cone on the outside of the
playing area.
• On the coach’s command, a player from each queue
enters the middle of the grid with a ball. They
dribble through the central area, populated by three
mannequins, before playing to a teammate in the
opposite queue. As they do so, they follow their pass
out of the grid.
• As a progression, the player playing out of the grid (for
example, either Player A in Diagram 1) can press the
receiving player in a passive manner.

2
PROGRESSION
• In this progression, players pass in and out of the grid
rather than dribbling.
• One player representing each group of six is in the
middle of the grid at all times.
• In Diagram 2, Player A passes into Player B, who
receives before playing a pass to Player C.
• Having played the first pass, Player A moves into
the middle of the grid, opening a new passing line to
receive the ball from Player C. Player B leaves the grid.
• A further variation would include two central players,
who must combine before playing out of the grid.
• In both instances, players follow their passes in and out
of the grid.

AC A D E M Y COAC H S E R I E S C H E L S E A U N D E R -1 0 AGE PHASE: U8-U11

UNOPPOSED
DRIBBLING/PASSING PLAYING OUT FROM THE BACK

COACHING DETAIL: TECHNICAL

WEIGHT OF PASS
• Players should focus on ensuring that their passes in
and out of the grid in each practice are appropriately
weighted.
• They should set the receiving player up to be able to
use one touch before either passing or dribbling.
FIRST TOUCH FORWARDS
• The player receiving the ball on the outside of the grid
should ‘step into the game’, taking a positive first touch.
RECEIVING SKILLS
• In the practice’s progression, players should attempt
to position themselves so that they can half-turn in
one touch.
• Failing that, should they receive the ball with their back
to the target player, they should first have checked their
shoulder to gain an awareness of the picture.

EYES UP
• Players should constantly scan the area so that they are
aware of central traffic.
• The information this provides them with will dictate
which passing lines they take up, where they dribble
and how they receive the ball.

OPEN A PASSING LINE

• In the practice’s progression (Diagram 2), players
should work to create new passing angles as they enter
the grid.
• This will involve negotiating the traffic in the central
area and communicating with teammates.

DISGUISED PASSES
• In the practice’s progression (Diagram 2), players
should be encouraged to show creativity in how they
pass out of the grid or combine with teammates.
• This could entail disguised passes or one-touch play.

AC A D E M Y COAC H S E R I E S C H E L S E A U N D E R -1 0 AGE PHASE: U8-U11


BUILD-UP WITH ATTACKING OVERLOAD PLAYING OUT FROM THE BACK

FUNCTION 1

• This is a 3v2 build-up play game in which one team tries

to outplay two defenders before playing into a forward
in a 1v1 situation beyond the poles and flat discs.
• In Diagram 1, the attacking Team A combines with the
goalkeeper and looks to play into their forward – who
tries to outplay his marker before finishing in the goal.
• The first two Team A players are joined by a neutral player
(N) in the build-up.
• If Team B steals the ball, they play 3v2, using the neutral
Player N, towards the goal guarded by the goalkeeper.
• This can then lead to a new attack, with Team B now in
possession, that starts with the goalkeeper. 2
• The goalkeeper is unable to play directly into the forward.
• The starting point of each attack can represent a goal-
kick if appropriate; box markings could denote the
positions the defending pair must take up.

PROGRESSION 1
• As the ball is played into the forward, he can be joined
by a supporting attacker to make an attacking 2v1.
• In Diagram 2, a third-man run is made to support the
Team B forward as he receives the ball. 3
• The 2v1 situation should culminate in a one-touch finish
into the goal.

PROGRESSION 2
• Diagram 3 shows the neutral player becoming a second
defender in the final third. This leads to a 3v2 build-up
situation (including the goalkeeper) and a 1v2 situation
(becoming a 2v2) in the final third.

AC A D E M Y COAC H S E R I E S C H E L S E A U N D E R -1 0 AGE PHASE: U8-U11

BUILD-UP
WITH ATTACKING OVERLOAD PLAYING OUT FROM THE BACK

COACHING DETAIL: COACHING DETAIL:

OUT OF POSSESSION
SET THE TRAP
• The defending pair should try to protect the middle of
the pitch, inviting the goalkeeper to play to an attacking
player before pressing them immediately.
COACHING DETAIL:
IN POSSESSION
PATIENCE
• The team in possession should use the ball effectively
in the context of a 4v2 (including the goalkeeper)
situation.
• They should be patient as they circulate the ball until
the point at which they find a spare player who can play
forward. This will likely entail frequent switches of play.
OFFENSIVE TRANSITION
QUICK, INCISIVE COUNTER-ATTACKS
• When the defending team steals possession, they
should counter-attack quickly toward goal using their
overload as they are joined by the neutral player.
• They should attempt to find the spare player in a 3v2
situation before finishing.
COACHING DETAIL:
DEFENSIVE TRANSITION
QUICK REACTIONS TO DEFEND THE GOAL
• As the team building up play loses possession, they
must react immediately to defend their goal. This would
be characterised as an ‘emergency defending’ situation.

STRETCH THE PITCH

• The forward for the team in possession should attempt
to ‘stretch the pitch’, playing off the shoulder of the
defender in the attacking third.

THIRD-MAN SUPPORTING RUNS

• As the practice progresses, well-timed third-man runs
should create 2v1 or 2v2 situations in the final third.

USE THE GOALKEEPER

• Players shouldn’t neglect the use of the goalkeeper to
create 3v2 or 4v2 situations, depending on the set-up.
The goalkeeper can be used to relieve pressure should
it be necessary before players search for new passing
lines.

AC A D E M Y COAC H S E R I E S C H E L S E A U N D E R -1 0 AGE PHASE: U8-U11

BUILD-UP
PLAY SMALL-SIDED GAME PLAYING OUT FROM THE BACK

FUNCTION
1
• This is a small-sided game featuring two teams of six.
The in-possession team – in Diagram 1, Team A – plays
in order to accumulate 8 passes and can combine with
both goalkeepers.
• The other team – Team B – tries to steal possession
and score as quickly as possible in either of the outside
goals. The inside goals come into play as the practice
progresses.
• The two teams’ roles alternate at the end of each
predetermined block of play.

2
PROGRESSION
• As the practice progresses, the central goals come
into play. At this point, the team building up play – in
Diagram 2, Team A – are able to score in either central
goal or can still score by accumulating 8 passes.
• This places an additional challenge in front of
Team B, who must now consider how to protect
the middle of the pitch while still trying to regain
possession.

AC A D E M Y COAC H S E R I E S C H E L S E A U N D E R -1 0 AGE PHASE: U8-U11

BUILD-UP
PLAY SMALL-SIDED GAME PLAYING OUT FROM THE BACK

COACHING DETAIL: COACHING DETAIL:

IN POSSESSION
VARIED PASS LENGTH
• If the opposition players press aggressively and make it
difficult for the in-possession team to build play using
short passes, they should not neglect longer passes that
allow them to play over the opposition.
OFFENSIVE TRANSITION
QUICK, INCISIVE COUNTER-ATTACKS
• As the defending team steals possession, they should
counter-attack quickly towards either outside goal
using as few passes as possible. This may entail
individual dribbles or quick combination play.

STRETCH THE PITCH

• The players furthest away from the ball for the team
in possession should attempt to ‘stretch the pitch’ by
playing off the shoulder of or in behind the opposition’s
deepest defenders.
• The in-possession team should also have players
positioned near the touchlines in order to play around
the opposition press.
COACHING DETAIL:
DEFENSIVE TRANSITION
QUICK REACTIONS TO DEFEND THE GOAL
• As the team building up play loses possession, they
must react immediately to defend the goals. This would
be characterised as an ‘emergency defending’ situation.

PATIENT CIRCULATION
• As the practice progresses and the central goals come
into play, the in-possession team must decide when it
is appropriate to try to score in the central goals and
when they are better placed retaining possession and
working toward 8 passes. As the ball is moved patiently,
the in-possession team may identify gaps in the
opposition press through which they can play.

COACHING DETAIL:
OUT OF POSSESSION
PROTECT THE MIDDLE
• The defending (and counter-attacking) team must be
mindful of the need to protect the middle of the pitch
as they press when the central goals come into play as
the practice progresses.

AC A D E M Y COAC H S E R I E S C H E L S E A U N D E R -1 0 AGE PHASE: U8-U11