Wayne Harrison was the Technical Director for Youth for the Al Ain Football and Cultural club in the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East. In his time in Charge the youth teams won SEVEN National Champions at Youth Professional Level in the United Arab Emirates in 2 years. The most successful professional academy in the country. 6 Finishing Championship Runners up. The academy was Voted the Top Professional Academy in the UAE by Marco Monte of Inter Milan the Consultant for the Abu Dhabi Sports Council in 2011. Also beating teams such as Inter Milan, Valencia, Atletico Madrid and Raja of Morocco in tournaments at U15 and U16.

Here is the first example of some Coaching Clinics he taught to the 40 plus full time coaches he oversaw; all entirely relevant to what is being taught today..

Different Ideas on the Development of Play from the Back and Positioning

In the practices illustrated here both back fours operate on defensive and attacking aspects of their game in the same practice. The coach may choose to work with one of the back fours specifically or may work with both back fours in the same practice.

INITIALLY HAVE A FIELD 25 YARDS OF THE HALF WAY LINE THEN BOX TO BOX, NARROW FIELD

ALL SHADOW PLAY UNTIL GET TO 7 v 7 (4-2-1)
4 v 4 POSITIONING AND MOVEMENT
5 v 5 (4-1) CM drops in CB BRINGS OUT
6 v 6 (4-2) SAME IDEA WITH 2 CM’S
6 v 6 (4-1-1) STRIKER IN. SHADOW PASSING STILL BETWEEN ALL THE UNITS THEN PASS TO OTHER TEAM. HOW DO WE GET OUT? CB BRINGS OUT AND SWITCHES; OR N6 DROPS IN AND THEY SPREAD
7 v 7 (4-2-1) as above: HOW DO WE GET OUT AGAINST 1 STRIKER? ADD KEEPERS AND NOW IT IS LIVE
8 v 8: 4 v 2 / 2 v 2 / 4 v 2: HOW DO WE GET OUT AGAINST A 2? THRU FB’S OR CREATE A 3 AT THE BACK WITH A CM
9 v 9: 4 v 3 / 2 v 2 / 4 v 3: HOW DO WE GET OUT AGAINST A 3 THRU FREE CB OR FB’S PUSH ON AND TAKE WINGERS WITH THEM; CB’S SPLIT, CM DROPS IN, 3 v 1 IN CENTER.
3 TEAMS: SP: GK TO BACK 4: HEAD OUT TO CENTRAL TEAM (BALLS IN EACH GOAL) 4 v 5 v 4 (defending)
AN 11 v 11: FULL FIELD: 4-2-3-1: build up from back. DO IT AS A SHADOW PLAY LIKE THE BEGINNING TO START IF CB BRINGS OUT SHOW MOVEMENT IN FRONT TO CS
So, focus on attacking from the back then get to other back four and defending regaining the ball and attacking back and forth.

No goalkeepers are needed in this practice to begin; which is sited around the edge of the middle third of the pitch - marked by cones.

The Coach start the practice by serving the ball into any player of the back four
When the ball arrives at a full back it is delivered some 30 yards forward to the opposite fullback. As the ball is delivered from one side to the other the back four pushes forward to compact the play.
On receiving, transfers the ball across the back four and the team 'changes the play' to the other side, and the left back then delivers to the right back on the other team for the process to begin once more.

Technical content of the practice

Coaching Points:

Attacking

'Changing the play' across the field
Shape of the back line, distances from each other.
Quickly with minimum touches (one or two touches if possible), possibly 'missing out' a centre back in the process.
Awareness of others positioning prior to receiving the ball.
Pass quality - along the back line - Pass forward to the other group.
Supporting the forward pass - pushing forward - When? - How far?
Distances between players and role as the ball is moved across the field.

Defending

'Sliding' defense across the pitch as opposite back four transfers the ball across their line
Positioning off other players in the back four - ahead, behind, distances.
Depth of the back-line and awareness of other movements.
'Spreading' quickly as a back four player receives the incoming pass - Where, how, speed etc?

The ball can be transferred across 2 or 3 players for greater speed.

Introduce one central midfield player (or two if the team operates with two central midfield players} to each team. The central midfield player (6) can now combine his play with the back four players. The four central backs on both teams can now receive passes and run with the ball into the midfield area.

Should this action take place, then (6) replaces the center back going forward with the ball and becomes an integral part of the back line and the centre back now operates as a midfield player. The three movements are in numbered order of 1 to 3.

Also, on receiving the ball at the back, the right center back may choose to play a "cross-pass" with the left back as he comes out of the back line.

Once into the midfield area, our central back now distributes the ball into the opposite back-line and the entire process can be repeated.

Technical content of the practice

Attacking

'Changing the play' across the field - all factors from the previous practice
Combining with central midfield players - Wall passes - Feints to pass to central midfield
Running with the ball from base line and adjustments of position from other defenders
Involving the central midfield player in changing the play.
Pass quickly - Across the back line - To and from the central midfield player - Distribution from the central back in midfield areas
Central midfield operating in the back line
Central back operating in midfield
Spreading and supporting any pass receiver - Where? - When? - How?
Central midfield positioning distances as back four arranges the play.

Defending

'Sliding' defense as the ball is changed across the opposition back line.
Positioning off other players in the back four.
Depth of the back-line and awareness of other movements.
'Sliding' of central midfield player as opponents change the play, etc.

Additionally, the back four may choose to involve the central midfield player in changing the play across the back, as illustrated here.

Alternatively have the passing back four stay wide and not condense across the field so their shape has to change very quickly to adjust to the other team receiving the ball.

Add a 2nd central midfield player.

Two more players are introduced with the practice. Both number (9) strikers operate to disrupt the flow of the play across the back line and to act as targets for forward passes from the back players in possession.

The central midfield player (or two central midfielders) still operates ahead of the back line but now chooses his positions according to the movements of the striker opposing the back-line players (preventing forward passes to him by getting in the passing lane).

Striker (9) moves according to the flow of play and where appropriate, is a receiver of the ball from his own back line and if he does receive the ball he plays it to the other team and the cycle continues.

However, back players may still pass to their opponents back line if (9) cannot make a logical and suitable position to receive.

Should the striker (9) receive a pass from a back player he could lay the ball off to the central midfield player moving to support him or feed any other member of the back line moving forward to support him. The receiver from (9) now plays the ball into the back four of the other team and they initiate play at the back once again.

Technical content of the practice

Attacking

As in previous practices here.
Back four players supporting striker receiving the ball.
Quality of passes to striker's feet for ease of lay off.
Positioning and movement of central midfield player supporting the receiving striker.

Defending

As in previous practices
Who marks striker (9) receiving forward passes?
How is the striker marked?
Is the back four defense to be organized as a zonal back four or man-for-man marker on the striker and a free back?

Further players can be introduced and the field lengthened.

Two wingers and two more midfield players are added to the practice, which commences when either coach or an opposition player (here it is player G) plays the ball to the goalkeeper.

The back four positions to play out from the back and attempts to do so introducing midfield players if necessary. Play is free with the intention to score past the opponent's goalkeeper. Play is from penalty area to penalty area and goals and goalkeepers now introduced.

Technical content of the practice

Attacking

Back four 'shape' to receive from the goalkeeper against three opponents.
Awareness, controlling, touch and decision to pass, run the ball or combine with other players to progress the play from the back.
Support and positioning of midfield players to assist any back player coming out from the back with the ball.
Positioning of forward players in central and wide positions to receive passes from back players.
Interchange of positions between back and midfield players; (6) CAN DROP IN TO COVER.
Distribution over short and longer ranges from back players.
Operating as a midfield player on coming forward from the back etc.
Roles of midfield players on forwards receiving passes from the back.
Alternatively, the defensive midfielder (6) can drop in and start the moves off if the opponents only have two strikers pushed on the back four.

Defending

Roles and responsibilities of a zonal back four, or man-for-man and free back roles.
Showing 'infield' or 'outside' by full backs.
Marking, challenging, blocking and defending against crosses.
Back four distances from the ball when play is with opposition back four.
Back four and goalkeeper understanding.

In the practices illustrated both back fours operate on defensive and attacking aspects of their game in the same practice.

The coach may choose to work with one of the back fours specifically or may work with both back fours in the same practice.

Concentration - Defending from Central attacks (Transition)

Now place another team in the middle of the field.

This practice takes place on half a pitch with the flanks coned off, so the field is not too wide. The back four stays compact and narrow. They must stay alert always on both sides.

The practice can be quite exerting and frequent rests should be given. This is a squad practice using eight defenders. Central midfield players could and should be given practice in the defending positions.

Start Position: The goalkeeper (GK) starts the move by throwing or kicking a ball long into the opposing back four, it is headed out by a defender. The striker and midfield players pick up the loose ball (or he can pass it into the middle team).

Striker (9) can receive and attack the goal or lay the ball off to a supporting midfield player. The defenders must defend the action.

If the defenders win the ball they hit the other striker (in this case 10) in the other half and the opposite back four begin to defend.

If the move breaks down in any other way the GK starts the practice again. The key to the practice is that the midfield trio can change the direction of attack at will so both sets of defenders must be prepared. This will also involve being ready to push on to players in midfield. Something back four players can be reluctant to do this. This is also an excellent practice for coping with playing against one up front.

Develop: Passing to the number (9) or (10) challenges the center of defense but also pass to the wide players to affect the fullbacks too.

11 v 11 THE FINAL GAME SITUATION

A final progression could be made to play an 11 v 11 on a full-size pitch adding a midfield player to each team. Here it is a 4-3-3 but you can use any formation to suit your needs.

DO A SHADOW PLAY FIRST SUCH AS IN THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION WHERE TEAMS PASS AND MOVE, THE OPPONENTS SHADOW THEM; AND THEN THE TEAM IN POSSESSION GIVES THE BALL TO THE OTHER TEAM AND SO ON.

Show how to develop play from the back against a single striker, two strikers; and then three strikers, and different formations.

Here center back (4) brings the ball out of defense.
Midfielder (6) drops in the cover should possession be lost in a bad area of the field.
Midfielder (8) clears the path in front of (6) by taking his marker (F) out of the space and wide.
Wide striker (7) clears the space for (8) to move into by pushing forward and thus pushing defender (D) back also.
If possession is lost in this phase of play then (4) drops back into the defensive midfield position and (6) stays at center back until they can switch back into their regular positions.

WIDE PLAYERS CUTTING INSIDE

This is an opportune moment when attacking centrally (it can be a midfield player also) for the two wide strikers to make OUTSIDE TO INSIDE runs to position between the fullbacks and center backs.

(K) can close (4) who can either try to beat him or time the pass into any of the three front players before getting closed down, thus taking (K) out of the game.

(K) Blocks the pass to (9) but it is open for either (11) or (7).

If (11) can receive the ball through good timing of his run to go with a perfect timing of the pass and attack between the defenders this is a wonderful way to create a 1 v1 situation in front of goal, he may even get a quick shot off before the defender reacts to his movement.

Coaching Points: