Building Up Play in Free Play

Pitch: One goal.

Equipment: 1 goal and several balls.

Players: One goalkeeper, two centre-backs, two full-backs, one holding midfielder and the front strikers.

Play is free and without opponents; the players are to internalise the running paths. Play always starts from the goalkeeper or from a centre-back.

• The centre-backs move apart to the width of the penalty area.
• The holding midfielder shows for the ball centrally.
• The full-backs push high.
• The front strikers move close together in order to create space in the wide areas.
• On a long goal kick, the goalkeeper gives a signal — raising an arm — whereupon all the players close up in the centre. This increases the chance of winning the ball.

Progression: Let two, later three passive opponents act as strikers and vary how wide and how high up they stand.