U14 Practice Plan - Building Out of the Back

Set Up:

• Remove the endzones in the previous game, and add two 3 yard goals on each end (field is now 31x20yds)

• Let players play 4v4, coach decides how restarts happen, depending on local rules

Coaching Points:

• None. Just let them play. However, get excited when you see a player try a try a dribbling move or attempts to get a defender off balance.

• Always highlight positives you see, but don’t stop play and don’t correct their decision making. This is their time to play how they want.

Set Up:

The two teams play 4v4 with a neutral attacker. They can score in any of their opponent's three goals, and they can play behind the goals as well. Games are played to five. After each game, new teams are formed and a new neutral attacker is used.

Coaching Points:

1.  Look to create 2v1s all over the field.

2.  When the ball is played in behind the goal, look to make blind side runs.

3.  Anticipate changes of possession and beat your opponent down the field.

Progressions:

1.  Remove the goals in the middle.

Set Up:

• On a half field, seven attackers go against six defenders. When in possession, the defending team is trying to score on the two small goals (3yds wide).

• Formation for black team: 1-4-2 (#1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #8). Formation for green team: 4-2 (#7, #8, #9, #10, #7, #11). Adjust as numbers allow.

• The ball starts with the coach on halfway line and is played to the black team. If the ball is lost, green team attacks the large goal.

• Normal rules apply (including corners, goalkicks, throw-ins). If a goal is scored, the game restarts with the coach.

Coaching Points:

• Encourage the GK to play short to defenders instead of punting the ball.

• Talk about the shape of the defenders when they have possession. We want options behind, wide and in front of the ball to play.

• Communication.

• Anticipation from backline - Once a defender has the ball, can the other defenders recognize the movements they need to make to create space and do it fast?

• Movement of center mids - Can they provide an option to play forward?

• What are the visual cues of playing into the center midfielders when building out of the back? Make sure the #6 or #8 have time and space to turn. If space is too tight in midfield, then play wide or look to bypass midfield line altogether.

Set Up:

• Play 7v7. If your numbers are short, decrease size of field to 40x25 and play 6v6.
• Cones for goals are 6yds wide and use goalkeepers.

Coaching Points:

• None. Just sit back and let them play. Play full rules for your age group: offside, thrown-ins, goalkicks and corners etc.
• If you see deception, get excited even if the move doesn’t work. Give them the thumbs-up and tell them you want them to try it again. The more you encourage the attempt instead of the result, the more often your players will be willing to take risks in a game.