Hello Team and Soccer Families,
Coach Mick here with a new playbook session. As we continue to understand our 3-2-2 formation, an important aspect we need to cover is “building from the back”. This approach enables us to maintain control, set the tempo, and create calculated attacks.
The Basics of Building from the Back:
Building from the back is all about patiently moving the ball from our defenders, through the midfield, and towards the forwards. Here’s how we can do it effectively in a 3-2-2 setup:
Step 1: Safe Possession at the Back
Our defenders (especially the central one) and goalkeeper play a crucial role in starting our attacks. They need to maintain composure, communicate effectively, and use the width of the pitch to spread out and create passing options.
Step 2: Linking Up with Midfield
Once our defenders have the ball, our midfielders need to show for it. This means moving into spaces where they can receive a pass. It’s important to remember that our wide defenders can also step into the midfield area to help with ball progression.
Step 3: Progressing the Ball Forward
Once our midfielders have the ball, they can turn and move the play forward. They can dribble, play a pass to the forwards, or use the wide defenders who’ve moved up.
Drills to Practice Building from the Back:
We’ll be incorporating specific drills to help us master this approach:
- Rondo Drills: These possession games are great for developing quick passing, spatial awareness, and ball control under pressure – all crucial for building from the back.
- Small-Sided Games with Build-Out Lines: This drill encourages the team to play the ball out from the defense, promoting control and understanding of the ‘building from the back’ concept.
- Passing Patterns: These drills will help us understand the movements and passing options we have when playing out from the back.
Remember, the key to successfully building from the back is patience. Sometimes, we might have to pass the ball around at the back a little before a good option presents itself. The important thing is to keep the ball, make the opposition work, and wait for the right opportunity to attack.
Keep training hard, keep trusting each other, and let’s become a team that’s comfortable on the ball, no matter where we are on the pitch.
See you at practice!
Coach Mick
