Annual training plan · U9–U13

Week 34: Build-Up Play for U10–U13

2 complete training sessions with 8 drills – created by licensed coaches. Open every drill in the easy2coach web app with one click.

This week’s focus

Even though individual tactical and technical development is clearly the priority in small-sided football, players should learn the basics of group tactics. An essential foundation for competing successfully in 7 vs 7 is playing out from the back and the build-up.

Playing out through the goalkeeper is particularly important for building up from the back in a controlled way. Because small-sided football is defended very much man-to-man, solutions are needed to be able to face the direction of play with the very first pass. You can give your players the following options:

  • Coordinated positional rotations: A defender runs in behind while, at the same time, a midfielder comes short to receive the ball from the goalkeeper.
  • Using running feints: The player takes 2–3 steps in one direction and then makes an explosive change of pace and direction to become available for a pass.

It is important that both solutions are carried out at high speed. Only then can a player get far enough away from the opponent to control the ball facing the direction of play. It also depends on the pace and accuracy of the goalkeeper's pass and the quality of the first touch of the outfield player receiving it.

Once the ball has been played out successfully, the build-up can begin. Unlike on the full-size pitch, this does not go into too much detail or work on specific solutions. Instead, it is about teaching the players a few basic principles for the build-up. Players will get to know these principles over the training week and be able to use them in small-sided games and apply them in match-realistic practices.

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

The first session on build-up play works on the one hand on starting the build-up from the goalkeeper and on the other hand on an essential basic principle of the build-up – making the game wide and deep.

When starting the build-up, the aim should be to get the ball to a team-mate under control and along the ground. The receiver should also be able to play facing the direction of play. The defenders should therefore show for the ball in an open body position.

In small-sided football, however, it is not unusual for the opponents to mark your own players tightly. Running feints and changes of position can therefore be used to still allow a first touch facing the direction of play.

Before the build-up even starts, however, your own team must make the game wide and deep. This makes use of the size of the pitch in order to tie up opponents in depth and pull the opposition apart. The effect is that your own team has enough space to carry out a controlled build-up.

Coaching points for this session
  • Give players time to find solutions on their own
  • If there are difficulties, guide the players towards possible solutions by asking targeted questions
  • In small-sided games, pay attention to the principles of the team's own game but refrain from prescribing specific actions
Drill 1

Dribbling in the Centre with Passing

15 min
  • The two players with a ball dribble towards the middle at the same time.
  • They dribble around the middle cone.
  • They then pass at a 90-degree angle to the next player.
  • The passers follow their ball.
  • The receivers carry out the drill in exactly the same way; the drill continues as a continuous passing sequence.

Variations:

  • Pass the ball to the left or to the right.
  • Let the ball swing between the legs.
  • Cut in front of the cone and then pass the ball on at a 90-degree angle.
  • Combine the cut with a scissors, a shot feint or a body feint.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones form a square, another one stands in the middle.

Equipment: 5 cones and 2 balls.

Players: The players spread out evenly across all corners; one ball lies at each of two diagonally opposite corners.

Coaching points

Carry out further variations:

  • Pass the ball to the left/right
  • Let the ball swing between the legs
  • Cut in front of the cone and then pass the ball on at 90 degrees
  • Combine the cut with a scissors/shot feints/body feint
Drill 2

3 vs 1 Combination

20 min
  • The aim of the drill is to pass to the number ten in such a way that a 1 vs 1 with the number five becomes possible.
  • The first pass always goes to the holding midfielder, who either combines with the number two or turns straight away and plays to the number ten.
  • The number eight tries to prevent this. If the number eight wins the ball, the numbers two, four and six immediately put pressure on again.
  • If the number ten is played in successfully, the number ten goes into the 1 vs 1 with the number five and tries to dribble over that player's line.
  • After the 1 vs 1, the number ten passes to the number eight, who plays back to the number four; the number four starts the next action.
  • The next run-through begins on the other side.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones mark out the positions and the target line of the duel.

Equipment: 6 cones, 3 bibs and several balls.

Players: The positions two, four, six, eight, ten and five.

Coaching points
  • With an opponent pressing directly from behind, the holding midfielder plays the ball to the number two with the foot furthest from the opponent.
  • Where possible, the number two deals with the ball quickly using the foot that opens up the play and passes to the number ten with the second touch.
  • The number four tells the holding midfielder which follow-up action to take through the foot the pass is played to and through a call: a pass to the foot that opens up the play means turn, a pass to the foot furthest from the opponent means lay the ball off.
Drill 3

Build-Up Play and Shot at Goal

20 min
  • The goalkeeper plays a firm pass to the right or to the left to the players between the two cones.
  • The player who receives the pass takes the ball in their stride in an open position and plays it to the midfielder further up.
  • The midfielder dribbles at the dummy and goes past it with a feint.
  • The midfielder then finishes on goal.

Variations: Before the pass, the players on the left and the right carry out a running feint — first going deep, then briefly coming towards the ball.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: A dummy or an opponent stands in the middle, three cones mark the positions; a goal stands at the end.

Equipment: 1 dummy, 3 cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: One goalkeeper, one player each on the left and the right between the cones, plus one midfielder.

Coaching points
  • The goalkeeper plays the passes with enough pace and plays to the front foot.
  • The receivers on the left and the right play forward with the second touch.
  • They show for the ball in an open body position.
  • The player further up takes the ball straight into the stride and picks up speed.
  • That player goes past the dummy with a feint and a change of pace.
Drill 4

5 vs 5 - with Wall Players Dribbling In

25 min
  • The game is played 5 vs 5 with offside.
  • If a wall player receives a pass, that player dribbles into the playing area and the passer takes over that position as wall player.
  • If the ball goes out over the touchline or the goal line, the game restarts with the goalkeeper of the team entitled to it.
  • The teams play in a 2-2-1.
  • Interruptions are avoided: if the ball goes out of play, the next ball is dribbled in immediately.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones mark out the playing area, two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, 6 cones and four to five balls, which are kept ready in the goals.

Players: Two teams of seven players each, marked by colour. Five players per team are in the playing area, two as wall players in the respective attacking third. In addition there are two goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Make sure that the wall players are passed to at every opportunity.
  • Encourage a quick change of players.
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

Today's session is about giving the players solutions for when the opponent goes straight into a high press after your own team has started the build-up. The opposing team usually allows the opening pass to a defender. As soon as it has been played, however, the opponents attack the player on the ball and cut off the ball-side passing options.

Now the player in possession must keep a cool head. One or more square passes will not usually be enough to get sufficiently free of the high press. Instead, the aim should be to cut through the opponent's aggressive defending and to look to play forward quickly.

If possible, a line should be bypassed. Because only in this way can space really be gained. If the ball is only played on to the next player forward, that player usually has an opponent behind and can often only play the ball back into the pressure. However, if the defender in possession manages to bypass a line, the player who has been found can lay the ball off and the receiver can play facing the direction of play. For this, however, the players who have been bypassed must follow the ball immediately.

Coaching points for this session

Opponent is playing a high press:

  • Look to play forward quickly
  • No square passes
  • Ideally play past a line to gain space
  • Players who have been bypassed follow the ball immediately to offer a passing option
  • If the player in possession comes under too much pressure, a long ball can also be a solution. It should be played diagonally to the far side where possible
Drill 1

3 vs 1 in 3 Areas

20 min4 x 6 metres per square, or larger depending on the standard
  • The defender tries to tempt the attackers into a passing error through clever pressing, or to intercept the ball.
  • If there is a mistake — for example a ball out of play or an intercepted ball — the player who caused the mistake moves into the middle.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Eight cones form three squares.

Equipment: 8 cones and several balls.

Players: One attacker per square, who may not leave that area, plus one defender.

Coaching points
  • Keep getting out of the cover shadow.
  • Do not show for the ball on the same line as the team-mate, but instead offer the player in possession two passing options at all times.
  • Operate with few touches.
Drill 2

Passing with Coordination and Running Drills

20 min
  • The ball is played back and forth between positions A and B.
  • After the pass, the players continue anticlockwise around the square.
  • On the way they complete a coordination task at the ladder and a running task from the running drills.
  • The coach sets the tasks.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark a square with positions A and B; next to it lie six hurdles and an agility ladder.

Equipment: Cones, 6 hurdles, 1 agility ladder and several balls.

Players: At least two players stand at each cone.

Coaching points
  • Play all passes with the second touch.
  • Passing accuracy comes before passing pace.
  • Increase the passing pace step by step.
  • Have the passes played with the weaker foot too.
  • Have the passes played with the inside and the outside of the instep too.
Drill 3

Building Up Play 3 vs 1

25 min
  • The goalkeeper or the coach passes to the team-mate coming towards the ball.
  • After the pass the two other defenders come into the area for a 3 vs 3.
  • The attackers try to pass into the mini goal or to dribble through the dribbling gate.
  • If the defenders win the ball, they may counter-attack on the full-size goal.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two cones form a three-metre-wide dribbling gate to the side of the halfway line, with a mini goal next to it. Further cones mark the playing area; at one end there is a full-size goal.

Equipment: Cones, 1 mini goal, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: Three attackers and three defenders as well as a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • The attackers must use the time in which they are playing 3 vs 1 to take up the right positions and to finish quickly.
  • If that does not work, the goalkeeper can serve as an additional passing option in order to create a numerical advantage in the combination play.
Drill 4

Building Up Play in a 5 vs 2

25 min
  • The goalkeeper passes to a team-mate.
  • After the pass, three more defenders run onto the pitch, so that the game is 5 vs 5.
  • The attackers try to pass into a mini goal or to dribble through the cone goal.
  • If the defenders win the ball, they may counter-attack on the full-size goal.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the pitch and a cone goal; two mini goals stand on one side, a full-size goal at the other end.

Equipment: 1 goal, 2 mini goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Five attackers and two defenders on the pitch, three more defenders wait outside. Plus a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Demand an intensive high press from the defenders that puts the opponent under constant pressure.
  • Make the game wide and deep.
  • Play past a line.
  • Players who have been played past follow the ball immediately.
  • Play forward with enough pace.
  • Get out of the cover shadow in depth.
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