I am a real purist at heart so this would be how I want my teams to play from the back. Ok its risky sometimes but to me we have to try it. We have to defeat the long ball from the keeper way of playing that to me is completely wrong to play. Using this method, what are we teaching the players? Boot it and hope you win the 2nd ball? Bad, sad and it makes me mad !!

We owe it to the players to teach them this as Young as is possible. So here we develop play from the back. I work on this initially practicing all ways to get out.

Have opponents only intercepting passes to begin. Then let it go free.

When opponents win it back we work on the defending team condensing and defending correctly.

So certain plays are recognized consciously first of all with particular CUES offering identification of these.

If three or four ways to develop play are done very frequently then it becomes a subconscious decision to move into position so no decision making required as such.

This is Barcelona: We are using different numbers but the principles are the same. At any one time this can be a 3-1-3-3; it looks more like a 3-3-1-3 here

Basically we do it with (4), (5) and (6) as the first three, (8) is the single player, (2), (3) and (10) the next line of three and finally (7), (9) and (11) as the front three. But players rotate within this system to create a distinctive angled possession STYLE within the system / formation.

Distribution from the keeper and Playing from the back in a 3-1-3-3

Perhaps use cones instead of actual players to practice to make it work initially and to gain confidence (better still use Mannequins). Attacking team work the ball to the coach and then work it back to the keeper, back and forth.

Distribution from the keeper and Playing from the back in a 3-1-3-3

Our starting position, the team is in defensive shape and ready to attack. A 7 v 4 makes it easy to get out, but decrease the number of opponents if necessary to gain success initially; or increase if too easy.

How to coach it: Getting the ball to the Coach (or use small goals if you prefer)

Our team building from the back get wide and long. We maintain possession passing up and down and can go back to the keeper and constantly start again; or give it to the coach.

The coach can give it to the attacking red team

Coach gives it to the attacking red team and the defending team (your team) must get back to defensive shape asap. Add more players if this is too easy to defend against.

The coach can give it back to the keeper to start again

Coach can pass it to the keeper, your team resorts back to defensive shape as the ball travels and then starts to build again with the ball

1. Distribution from the keeper using one attacking wing fullback

We attack down one side and we slide across with the back three to cover the spaces behind

2. Distribution through Both center backs or (6)

A simple starting position on distribution from the back using only those players in the immediate vacinity. A 3 v 2 at the back in our favor.

3. Distribution through Number (6) in a wide area

Now (6) breaks wide to receive the ball and escape being marked in the middle and switches with (4) and perhaps opponent (9) goes with (4). The same can happen with (6) breaking out to the right also replacing (5) who moves centrally.

4. Distribution from the keeper: One centre back breaks wide

(4) Stays tight, (6) stays central, (5) goes wide, (2) pushes on and we get out down one side. Opponents (9) and (10) stop our (6) and (4), (5) gets free to play out. Only 2 defending now so risky against a counter attack.

OR, (3) stays tight too (4) moves central, (6) takes (5)s place at the back, (5) goes wide, (2) pushes on and we get out down one side. Opponents (9) and (10) stop our (6) and (4), (5) gets free to play out. (2) becomes (7), (5) becomes (2). Three defending now.

5. Distribution from the keeper thru wingbacks

They push 3 up we get out through our wingbacks. Have opponents make different choices to force the keeper to make relevant decisions in training.

Distribution from the keeper through Both wing backs

We can start to add players and build the session up. Here we close off one side so the keeper has to recognize he cant go to (3) but can go to (2).

6. Distribution from the keeper thru central midfield rotation of (6) and (8)

(6) Clears the space and takes the opponents (8) with him and our (8) drops in free to start the attack. Can also be with (6) and (10).

7. Distribution through Both wing backs dropping back

Centre backs both push out quickly,. And they are tracked by the two strikers. This releases spaces behind them. Both wing backs drop back into those spaces to receive the ball.

8. Distribution through centerbacks getting free

Centre backs both push out quickly,. Opponent strikers press the wing backs and centre backs get free so can bring the ball out and attack. Wing backs fill their positions by rotation. (2) and (3) become centre backs and tuck in either side of (6). Also (6) and (8) tried to rotate to get out.

How it may look if we lose the ball and have to recover

We tried (6) and (8) rotation, also center backs and wingbacks rotated, then we lost the ball and this is how we recover with players in different positions but in the same defensive framework.

Distribution from the keeper and Playing from the back 11 v 11

Now in an 11 v 11. Our normal way to get out from the back. We should always try this initially if it is on to do so. Try to get out thru (4), (5) or (6).

Distribution from the keeper 11 v 11

Another way to get out thru one center back and one wingback and even (8). (6) fills (5)s position (4) fills (6)s and (3) fills (4)s

Another way to get out thru one center back (5) and (7). Wingback (2) tucks inside and may take opponents 11 with them to clear the pass for (7). A nice area to play into circled also.

They go 3 v 3 against us to stop us playing out of the back so we try to get out through (2) and (3). Otherwise we have to push up, condense and kick it long.

This takes lots of practice with the keepers to make this pass happen consistently.

They go 3 v 3 against us so we try to get out through (2) and (3). Otherwise we have to push up, condense and kick it long. They “may” see what we are doing and push 7 and 11 onto our wingbacks (2) and (3).

They push two players onto our wingbacks (2) and (3)

This outlet is now stopped.

So we have to change our team shape from “wide and long” to “short and tight” getting ready for the long kick from the keeper.

9. They have pushed onto our Wingbacks so this outlet is stopped; we have to go long as a last resort

This can still be EFFECTIVE: Now we condense as a team “short and tight”. Our (10) is good in the air so we hit him and we have a lot of players around him to win the 2nd ball. Of course opponents will readjust also. Its cat and mouse.

We leave their 3 strikers offside.

Players can gamble for the flick on from (10). Players position behind, in front and alongside (10) so wherever the 2nd ball goes we have players to pick it up. WE ABSOLUTELY MUST get better at this. Obviously opponents will position better than this defensively; but you get the point.