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Situational Tactic
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Building from the Back
From:
Greg Marston For
Ages: 10
and up
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Comments: 3
When
and Where:
 The keeper has just made
a save or a free kick is given in the shaded area (i.e. goal kick).
Why:
A
punt by the keeper is at best a 50/50 ball and is a difficult ball
to control. However, if a team builds from the back properly and during
favorable situations, a decently skilled team should be able to get
the ball near the center line with 2 or 3 passes. Building from the
back promotes a saver, possession-style approach to the game. Also,
if a team closes down the passing options the center defender can
always hit a long ball up the touch line to a forward or midfielder.
Coaching
Points:
The central defender should receive the ball 5 to 10 yards away from
the touch line. This makes it more difficult for a defender to block
the passing options and gives the player room to make a move and hit
the long ball if necessary.
The
ball from the keeper, either a pass or a kick, should be made such
that the ball is rolling or near rolling when it is received by the
center defender. In other words it should be an easy ball to control!
The central defender should be facing up field after controlling the
ball. He should make an arcing run so it is easier for the keeper
to throw or pass in front of him.
How
Example #1 (keeper save)
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1. An opposing forward crosses and the keeper catches
the ball.
2. Once the keeper has possession 3, a center defender,
and 2, a wing defender, make runs to the weak side of
the field as shown.
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3. The keeper throws to 3 as 5 and 4 move to provide
defensive support in case possession is lost.
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4. 3 passes to 2 as the first option. If 2 is covered
3 can either pass to 6 up the touch line or to 7 in the middle.
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How
Example #2 (goal kick)
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1. Just as the keeper sets up for a goal kick the defenders
quickly move into position.
2. The keeper passes to 4. Ensure 4 is facing up field
after by turning with the ball!
Deception and quickness are key here! One ploy is for 4 to
feign fatigue while hanging back a little.
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3. Just as in example 1, 4 has the options of passing
to 5, the midfielder or forward up the line, or the supporting
midfielder in the middle.
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Comment by: WillieB
In example 2 D4 will have his/her back to the play when receiving
the ball so one option is that the keeper throws the ball
to D5 who then lays it back to 4, this way D4 receives the
ball while facing upfield and can ommediattely see any danger.
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Comment by: Greg
Marston
D4 should receive and turn with the ball so he is facing upfield.
This is an important skill to learn and this is a good situation
to show why it is important. I have found 10 and up can learn
the "trap and turn" skill.
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Comment by: Greg
Marston
This was the first and most successful tactic I implemented
for my U12 team this season. It was first because I really
wanted the kids to think about passing out of the back more
often and not just clear the ball. Everything worked fine
except that the center defenders were rarely the players getting
the ball. I found it was too much for an 11 year-old to make
that run from the center to the outside. Most of the time
the keeper threw to the wing defender and the support player
up the side was the wing midfielder. That was fine with me.
Only once did this tactic directly cost us a goal because
the keeper threw the ball in the middle. Usually our keepers
made good decisions on when to punt and when to throw.
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