Annual training plan · U14–U23

Week 48: Attacking Through the Centre

3 complete training sessions with 12 drills – created by licensed coaches. Open every drill in the easy2coach web app with one click.

This week’s focus

Last training week trained attacking via the half-space extensively. Now it continues with creating goal-scoring chances through the centre. On the wing, the player on the ball is usually put under pressure by only 1 or at most 2 players. In the half-space, the pressure increases. But time and space are nowhere as scarce as in the centre.

This means that decisions have to be made and carried out very quickly. Good scanning and coordinated, rehearsed running and passing lanes also help players to make the right decisions in the centre.

However, the middle of the pitch is also the quickest and most direct route to the opponents' goal. Starting from the defence, the ball can be played to the striker directly or via midfield. With the 2nd option, it is important that the central midfielders show for the ball behind the opposing strikers. To actually gain ground, the holding midfielder receiving the ball should be able to take it facing the direction of play. Alternatively, ground can also be gained by staggering in depth. For example, the centre-back plays the ball to a number eight, who lays it off to a holding midfielder.

Once the ball has arrived in midfield, the next step is to look for the ball in behind or the pass in front of the opposition back line. If an attacker receives the ball directly into his feet, he can go into a 1 vs 1 to turn. Alternatively, the striker can look for combination play with a ball-side team-mate to get in behind the defence. But coordinated movement by the strikers also makes it possible for the midfielder to play the ball in behind directly. A typical solution is for the ball-side striker to come short while the far-side striker runs in behind him.

Finding a striker directly from the defence is more of an option for a pass from the half-space. Nevertheless, this option also exists in the centre depending on the situation. Especially when a central midfielder manages to open up the middle of the pitch with his movement.

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

The first session of this week will be about playing the ball from the defence into midfield. This requires skilful and coordinated movement off the ball from the central midfielders. In addition, the following approaches help the holding midfielder to receive a pass and to operate facing the direction of play:

  • Ball-side goes, far side comes: The ball-side holding midfielder makes a forward run. At the same time, the far-side holding midfielder comes towards the centre-back in possession. The holding midfielder coming short shows for the ball side-on and scans before the pass.
  • Change of position: One of the holding midfielders makes a forward run. In return, a team-mate moves into the holding midfield area to show for the ball. This space can be occupied by a winger or a number ten, for example. Here too, the receiver must scan and turn immediately if possible. The 2nd holding midfielder provides cover.
  • Showing against the direction of shift: If a centre-back plays a square pass to the 2nd centre-back, the far-side holding midfielder moves away diagonally backwards, against the direction of the pass and of the shift. At the same time, the ball-side holding midfielder tries to tie up the opponent's far-side striker.
Coaching points for this session
  • Scan in advance
  • Turn immediately, if possible
  • Centre-back: play a firm pass to the holding midfielder
  • Centre-back plays to a free holding midfielder: play the pass to the front foot and give the call “turn” or “time”
  • Centre-back plays to a marked holding midfielder: play to the foot furthest from the opponent and give the call “lay-off” or “right/left shoulder”
  • Interchange positions
  • Show for the ball against the direction of the shift
  • Ball-side goes, far side comes short
Drill 1

Passing: Central Passing Point with a Fast Passing Sequence

15 min
  • The central players break out of the middle and show for the ball to an outer player.
  • The outer player passes to a central player, follows the pass into the centre and takes over the central position there.
  • The central player who has received the ball passes anticlockwise to the next outer player and joins the queue there.
  • The passing sequence continues in this way: outside, centre, outside.

Variations:

  • Practise clockwise.
  • Play the passing sequence alternately diagonally and sideways: the central player turns and passes to the opposite side, then as before again.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones form an outer square, four poles an inner one.

Equipment: 4 cones, 4 poles and 2 balls.

Players: Two players in the centre and at least two players at each outer cone. The players at two diagonally opposite outer cones have a ball.

Coaching points
  • Demand calls.
  • Get free with a preparatory movement.
  • Control the ball and play it on quickly.
  • Drop away first and then move towards the ball.
Drill 2

Building Up Play Through the Centre - Passing Sequence

20 min
  • After the centre-back has switched play, both holding midfielders drop at the same time and make sure they are staggered diagonally.
  • Once the far-side holding midfielder has received the ball, that player turns and plays the ball forward to the number ten.
  • The number ten lays the ball off to the near-side holding midfielder, who plays back to the first centre-back.
  • With that the passing sequence starts again from the beginning.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the starting positions.

Equipment: Cones and several balls.

Players: Two centre-backs, two holding midfielders and one number ten.

Coaching points
  • Pay attention to precise and firm passing into the open body position.
  • Place value on audible coaching — turn, lay-off.
Drill 3

Attacks Through the Middle with Options Level 2 Variation I-III

30 minHalf a pitch

Variation 1

  1. Player B passes to Player C and follows the pass to cone II.
  2. Player C passes to Player D and runs to cone III.
  3. At the same moment as C's backswing, Player D starts towards the ball and passes it first time into the path of Player E.
  4. Player D joins the line at cone II. Player E tries to score a goal and then goes to cone I.

Variation 2

  1. Player B plays a one-two with Player D, then passes on to Player C and runs to cone II.
  2. Player C passes to Player D and takes up a position next to cone II.
  3. Player D passes the ball first time into the path of Player E, who tries to score a goal.
  4. Player D runs to cone III, Player E goes to cone I after finishing.

Variation 3

  1. Player B plays a long pass into the path of Player D and runs to cone II.
  2. Player D passes on into the run of Player C and takes up a position at cone II.
  3. Player C passes into the path of Player E, who tries to score a goal.
  4. Player C joins the line at cone III, Player E goes to cone I after finishing.

Note: The respective sequence repeats continuously.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: A passing station is set up with three cones according to the respective variation.

Equipment: 9 cones, 1 full-size goal and balls.

Players: Three players stand at cone I, two players at cone II and one player at cone III. The balls are at the starting cone I.

Coaching points
  • The rehearsed movement patterns produce one quick, fluent overall movement.
  • Demand accuracy and tempo again and again — a slow execution does not lead to match-realistic success in the long run.
  • Correct mistakes immediately so that no wrong automatic patterns become ingrained.
  • The eyes are lifted from the ball regularly and switch between the ball and the pitch.
  • The player waiting for the ball makes a short counter-movement at the same moment as the passer's backswing.
  • The pass is played into the path of the player starting the run; the passing player watches that run.
Drill 4

Dribbling with a Finish II

20 minHalf a pitch
  • The players dribble around the outside of the poles and then finish on goal.
  • After that they fetch their ball back, or the goalkeeper plays it to them.
  • Then they pass into the mini goal.
  • Finally they jump over the small hurdles and go underneath the large hurdles.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six poles form the dribbling course in front of the goal; behind it there are four small and two large hurdles and a mini goal.

Equipment: 6 poles, 4 small hurdles, 2 large hurdles, 1 goal, 1 mini goal and several balls.

Players: The players start one after the other; plus a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Increase the tempo step by step.
  • Carry out the drills at a good quality.
The complete session as a ready-made training plan – with animated drills in the web app. Go to the web app

Session 2

4 drills

After options for playing the ball from the defence into midfield through the centre were introduced in the last session, the next step is how the ball can be played from midfield into the front line.

The ball can be played either directly in behind or into the feet of an attacker. With a pass in front of the back line, the attacker's foot furthest from the opponent should definitely be the target. Otherwise the centre-back behind the striker has a better chance of intercepting the pass. The striker can now resolve the situation with a dribble or through combination play with players nearby.

If the ball is to be played directly in behind the defence, clever movement by the strikers to show for the ball and get free is what matters. When a central midfielder has the ball, the following approaches can be helpful for the strikers:

  • Showing in the gap: for this, the ball-side striker moves far enough to the outside to be standing between the opposing centre-back and full-back. The midfielder can now play a firm pass to the striker's front foot. The striker should take the pass in their stride into the space behind the centre-back
  • Running in behind the defender: if the striker has moved away to the outside but is closely followed by the centre-back, the attacker can run in behind them. The midfielder plays into the gap between the opponent's two centre-backs
  • Curved run: The striker runs around the centre-back from inside to outside and then runs into the gap between the opponent's centre-back and full-back
  • Runs in behind: If a striker comes towards the midfielder in possession, the 2nd striker or another midfielder can run in behind
Coaching points for this session

Ball in behind:

  • Watch out for offside
  • Curved run
  • Show for the ball in the gap
  • The ball-side striker comes short. Start the run in behind, round the back of that player
  • Runs in behind from midfield

Ball in front of the back line:

  • Control the ball with the foot furthest from the opponent
  • Look for combination play
  • Centre-back marks very tightly: turn into that defender
  • Centre-back keeps a large distance: turn in front of that defender
Drill 1

First Touch and Taking the Ball with Passing

15 minFrom A to D about 25 metres; the cones B and C are staggered by about 8 metres and stand 10 metres apart
  • Player A plays a first-time pass to Player C.
  • Depending on the call from Player B, Player C turns or lays the ball off to Player B.
  • A pass to Player D follows.
  • On the call to lay the ball off, Player D plays a one-two with Player C; on the call to turn, a one-two with Player B.
  • After the one-two Player D plays to Player A.
  • All players move on one position.
  • After half of the time the drill is started from position D.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones form a quadrilateral: A front left, D front right, B back left and C back right.

Equipment: 4 cones and several balls.

Players: There is one player at each of the positions B, C and D; the remaining players line up with a ball at starting cone A.

Coaching points
  • Pay attention to orientation and quick decisions.
  • Play every pass along the ground, accurately, with maximum power and correctly timed.
  • Show for the ball in an open body position.
  • Make eye contact when passing.
Drill 2

Dribbling Techniques and Rebounder

20 min
  • The player dribbles through the course alternately with the inside and the outside of the foot.
  • Then the player plays the ball against the rebounder.
  • The player takes the ball sideways into the stride.
  • After that the player moves the ball from side to side between the insides of the feet.
  • Finally the player runs with the ball back to the starting position in a relaxed manner.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six tall cones form a course; a rebounder stands in front of it.

Equipment: 1 rebounder, 6 tall cones and one ball per player.

Players: The players start one after the other.

Coaching points
  • Keep the ball close.
  • Get the ball down quickly.
  • Dribble with both feet.
  • Look up from the ball.
Drill 3

Passing Through the Gap

25 min
  • Player 1 plays the ball to Player 2 and sets off towards the poles.
  • Player 2 plays the ball to Player 3.
  • Player 3 plays the ball through the gap to the onrushing Player 1, as directly as possible.
  • Player 1 finishes on goal.
  • Then Player 1 fetches the ball, puts it down at cone A and joins the queue at cone C; Player 1 thus becomes Player 3.
  • Player 2 becomes Player 1 and Player 3 becomes Player 2.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four poles form a back four next to one another in front of the penalty area. Three cones mark the positions: A as the starting position at the centre circle, B to the right of it and C centrally between the starting position and the line of poles. A goal with a goalkeeper stands at the end.

Equipment: 4 poles, 3 cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: There are two players at each of the cones A and B, the rest of the team lines up at cone C. In addition there is a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Set off in behind at top speed and, if necessary, delay briefly after the first pass.
  • Take the ball with one touch and finish.
  • Player 3 passes the ball on with the foot furthest from the opponent.
Drill 4

Shooting at Two Goals After a Diagonal Pass

20 min20 x 35 metres.
  1. Player A passes to Player A1, at the same time Player B passes to Player B1.
  2. Player A1 and Player B1 each lay the ball off a short way to the side.
  3. Player B shoots the ball laid off by Player A1 at goal, Player A the ball laid off by Player B1.

The positions are then changed clockwise: Player A takes over the position of wall player B1, Player B1 collects the ball shot by Player A and joins group B. Player B takes over the position of wall player A1, who in turn collects the ball from Player B and joins the back of group A.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: 20 x 35 metres with two goals facing each other. The two wall-player cones stand next to each other in the centre of the playing area.

Equipment: 2 goals, 2 wall-player cones and balls.

Players: One player at each of the wall-player cones (A1 and B1), the remaining players spread out evenly with balls at the two positions next to the goals (A and B). Both goals are occupied by a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Body position when shooting: upper body over the ball, standing foot about 30 to 40 centimetres to the side, foot pointing in the direction of the shot.
  • The arms swing along — the arm on the side of the shooting leg goes with the backswing, the other is brought forwards.
  • The eyes are on the ball at the moment of the shot.
  • The wall player makes a short counter-movement as soon as the starting player goes into the backswing and then moves towards the ball.
  • The pass to the wall player is played onto the wall player's stronger foot.
  • As soon as the ball has left the foot, the passer sets off in order to finish the ball that has been laid off first time.
  • Groups A and B always start at the same time so that the sequence does not stall.
  • On instruction, different shooting techniques can be practised: inside-of-the-foot push shot, instep drive or curling the ball.

Session 3

4 drills

Attacking through the centre has never been as difficult in competitive football as it is today. 1 to 2 decades ago, defending was still more man-orientated, which meant the opponents were spread more evenly across the pitch. However, the style of defending has changed over time. The focus has increasingly shifted to the ball and the space instead of the opponent. The dangerous zones – the centre – are now defended much more compactly.

However, the centre should still be considered as an option in attacking play. Especially because of its effectiveness. Passing through the middle of the pitch leads to significantly more goals than delivering crosses from the wing.

Nevertheless, good awareness and technical skills are required to create goal-scoring chances successfully through the middle of the pitch. Because of the tight space, the passing must be precise and the first touch good. In the centre, there is hardly any room for miscontrols, sloppy first touches or inaccurate passes. Also because the opponent could launch a counter-attack from the middle of the pitch after winning the ball.

Coaching points for this session
  • Drop away on the far side
  • Changes of position
  • Ball-side goes, far side comes short
  • Staggering in depth

Bringing the strikers into play from central midfield (strikers getting free):

  • Show for the ball in the gap
  • Ball-side comes short, far side goes in behind
  • Runs in behind
Drill 1

Dribbling and Passing in the Hexagon

15 min
  • The first player dribbles around the cones and passes to the second group.
  • The second player controls the ball, dribbles through the cones and passes to the third group.
  • In this way the ball continues on to the sixth group, which plays back to the starting position.

Variations: Carry out the drill with two balls; at the beginning the balls are with the first and the fourth group. This brings considerably more movement into the drill.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: 18 cones form a hexagon with six dribbling routes.

Equipment: 18 cones and one or two balls.

Players: Six groups, one at each corner.

Coaching points
  • Pay attention to passing accuracy.
Drill 2

Showing for the Ball and Getting Free in the Centre

20 min
  • The holding midfielder dribbles forward, while the number eight and the number ten cross over and get free in an arc.
  • The holding midfielder plays to the number ten.
  • The number ten lays the ball off to the number eight.
  • The number eight takes the ball and passes to the number nine, who shows for the ball to the side.
  • The number nine dribbles towards the starting position.
  • Then everyone moves on one station.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones form a square, another cone lies outside it.

Equipment: 5 cones and several balls.

Players: Four players in the positions of the holding midfielder, the number eight, the number ten and the number nine.

Coaching points
  • Pay attention to the staggering in depth.
  • The number ten lays the ball off with the foot furthest from the opponent.
  • The holding midfielder plays a firm pass.
  • The number eight takes the ball straight into the stride.
Drill 3

Sprints with Coordination: Training with Colours

20 min
  • The coach sets the order of the colours with constantly changing calls.
  • The player touches the cones in the square with the hand in the corresponding order.
  • After that the player goes over the hurdles with a crossover step.
  • The player plays the ball thrown by the coach back and runs into the square again.
  • Finally the player sprints up to the coach and jogs out in a relaxed manner.

Variations: For a competition set the layout up twice; both groups always start at the same time.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones in four colours form a square; the coach stands at the red cone, a second red cone marks the waiting position. In addition three hurdles for the crossover run.

Equipment: 6 cones in 4 colours, 3 hurdles and several balls.

Players: Pairs — one player in the square, one player behind the second red cone.

Coaching points
  • Pay attention to the correct execution of the coordination tasks.
  • Pay attention to the clean execution of the pass.
Drill 4

Small-Sided Game: Attacking Combination in the Centre

20 minHalf a pitch
  • Player A passes to Player C, who lays the ball off.
  • Player A plays it first time to Player B and runs to the outer cone.
  • Player B lays the ball off towards the outer cone.
  • Player A plays the ball into the run of Player C, who finishes.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Eight cones mark the positions; two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, 8 cones and several balls.

Players: One or two groups with Players A, B and C; plus goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Act with as few touches as possible.
  • Demand communication.
  • Make sure the tempo is close to match speed.
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