Small-Sided Game: Build-Up Play Centre-Backs

Pitch: Six cones mark out the playing area, which is divided into two halves.

Equipment: 6 cones, 1 ball and bibs.

Players: One centre-back at each end of the playing area, two neutral support players on each side plus the outfield players.

• The aim of the drill is to get the ball from centre-back to centre-back.
• Inside the playing area the game is 4 vs 4 or 2 x 2 vs 2; in this variation two players of each team always stay in their own half of the area.
• The outside players play with the team in possession and may only play the ball back with one or two touches.
• There is a point when the ball is combined from centre-back to centre-back, and a bonus point when the centre-back passes directly to the other centre-back.