This practice focuses on improving possession play and building up from the back while incorporating wide attacks. It is a 10v8 drill with Team A as the attacking team and Team B as the defending team. Team A sets up in a 1-4-2-3 formation, while Team B adopts a 1-3-3-1 shape. The playing area measures 36m x the full width, featuring eight-yard channels on each side.

SET UP

The possession phase starts with the goalkeeper of Team A, who initiates the build-up. Team A expands to create both width and depth, aiming to create space for passing options.

The full-backs of Team A move wide into the channels and push high onto the midfield line.

The wingers also position themselves in the wide channels, level with Team B's last defensive line, ensuring stretching of the defensive shape, as shown in Diagram 1.

The Team A goalkeeper and centre-backs now have a 3v1 advantage to build up play. The first pass from the goalkeeper must be directed to one of the central defenders.

Team B is instructed to defend as a compact block and protect the space behind their defensive line.

If Team A cannot penetrate through Team B's defensive shape, they are encouraged to play the ball wide and exploit the channels.

The wide channels are exclusively accessible to Team A's full-backs and wide players. Initially, they should have uncontested access to these channels, allowing them to gain confidence in combining effectively.

When the winger of Team A is positioned narrowly, the full-back should be encouraged to overlap, as depicted in Diagram 2. Conversely, if the winger is wide, the full-back should look to underlap, providing dynamic attacking options.

To increase the difficulty and add more defensive pressure, one defending player is allowed to enter either wide channel when the ball is in that area, as shown in Diagram 2.

Upon winning possession, Team B is encouraged to play directly and launch quick attacks.

This session enhances players' ability to maintain possession, build-up effectively from the back, and exploit the wide areas during attacks. It emphasises strategic movements and decision- making to break down the opposition's defensive shape and create goal-scoring opportunities. Additionally, it provides opportunities for both teams to work on defensive compactness and quick transitions upon regaining possession.

For more detailed information on this practice, please refer to the attached coaching process document.