When forcing outside, the defending team gets compact to stop the opponents passing in the centre of the pitch.
This tactic leaves space on the wings for the opponents. When the ball is played to the wing, the defending team slides across to press and force play to one side.
When forcing outside, you block the opponent’s centre midfielders and forwards from receiving a pass.
Red defenders slide across to press the attacker towards the wing
This quick free-kick is designed to catch opponents on the back foot. Without time to organise, they will be caught out not only by the speed of play but the switch of play. MORE
Playing out from the back is a great style to have in youth soccer. It gets teams keeping the ball and playing forward into the opposition danger areas. MORE
This sets up the coming together of two different tactics – it’s build up from the back versus the constant threat of the counterattack from balls played behind the defence. MORE
How is your team going to play next season? What tactics and which formation will you play so you can play to your team’s strengths? Pep Guardiola will pass past you and Jose Mourinho will hold you up – what style will your team have? Check out my four key tips for giving your team an identity in the way they play. MORE
The key rondos passes can be used in tactical play during matches to play between the lines with the key play splitting lines of defence to create goalscoring runs MORE
Age group: U7 – U14 Set up: Create a 20 x 30 playing area. This might seem like a big area for just four players but the big space will create more breakaway situations and will encourage players to run into spaces during matches. Place a small goal on each end line. Split your... MORE
