
Set up blue team 4-2-1 and red team 2-3-2. Strikers and centre mid remain in, but defenders and wide players will swap each time (move forward one place). Wide players will get the ball and return to half way after each attack. Option 1 - defence - wide player - CM to striker dropping deep Show striker dropping in to make three in middle and shielding ball in to striker. Talking from defence. If defender can win the ball, the go, but others must narrow and drop. Option 2 - wide player drives at full back for cross. Show full back showing inside and CMs crowd the area. Explain opposite side wide player tucks in. Option 3 - Ball to wide player who now comes inside and FB overlap. Show striker making the three in the middle to stop wide player finding striker and FB remains focused on possibility of FB pass.
Concentration Talking from back four Striker making bank of three in the middle.
This practice has no coaching points
This practice has no progressions
in more ways than one
Deliberate heading is now out of U11 grassroots matches. Here is how to coach chest, thigh and foot control so your players still win the ball in the air.
Long-range goals doubled at the 2026 World Cup as teams sat deep. Here is how to coach when to shoot from distance, the technique, and the follow-up.
Under FutureFit, your Under-9s stay at 5v5, your Under-11s stay at 7v7 and your Under-13s stay at 9v9. Same pitch, same numbers, one more year. Here is how to make sure that year feels like a step forward rather than a repeat.