Possession Out of The Back

[AlecParticipant]

Possession Out of the Back (Basic) and U11 and U12 drills. It’s amazing how critical this drill is to possession. I don’t know if it’s possible to do this drill too much. Pick a game, any game and it’s all over the video! Pateadoras vs B-USA (.12 – .20). Pateadoras does a pretty good job of pressuring B-USA and you can tell that this drill is really what allowed them to have the speed of play to get out of their pressure. Something that didn’t think about, but is actually really important is working on throw-ins. How to space how to move off the ball to get open from a throw-in etc.  I’ve noticed that sometimes my teams struggle to regain the rhythm of the possession when the other team keeps kicking it out and we have to throw it back in. I’ll have to include throw-ins into the shadow play around the back.

[BenParticipant]

I have a question for Gary, but others are welcome to chime in also.  During Set Tactical Training for possession out of the back, I noticed there is no goalkeeper involvement.  Do you guys ever include a keeper in the Set Tactical work?  And if so, how does the goalkeeper’s presence affect the spacing? In the U11/U12 video, for example, the Center Backs sometimes end up very deep in the penalty area  when swinging the ball…at times they are even in the goal area! When the team is possessing that close to their own goal, it seems like the GK would be a natural link between both Center Backs, allowing them to push wider and create more space.  This is something I’ve seen Barca and Bayern’s Center Backs do, as both Valdes and Neuer play well with their feet.  Yes, I know these U11/U12’s are not Barca/Bayern players, but I’m just wondering 1) whether I’m reading this scenario correctly, and if so, 2) why Brian’s teams build up in this particular way?

PS. This is not meant to be snarky or critical. I really want to learn and understand the HOW and WHY.  Thanks.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 11 months ago by  Ben.

[Mark BurmeschParticipant]

I thought that they were that deep just because of the limited field space they had. The left back was almost running into the bleachers. I could also be very wrong on this though.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 11 months ago by  Mark Burmesch.
• This reply was modified 10 years, 11 months ago by  Mark Burmesch.

[GaryKeymaster]

Yes on all counts Alec!

You can not rehearse the “possession out of the back” activity enough.
We introduced it to them at U10, and they still do it regularly now at the end of the U13 season. 3 YEARS and counting!
And I’ll say something else, it’s still not mastered.

And absolutely yes on rehearsing the throw-ins.

[GaryKeymaster]

That’s a good observation Benjamin.
Is the GK included? Yes and no.

Specifically, in the Goal Kick scenarios presented, if you have a keeper at the requisite level to play the role we have our defensive mid play … then the D-mid doesn’t have to drop into the box. In our case, our keeper(s) have not achieved that.

This is a big challenge. How to get the keeper to have the needed level with his feet.

[Brian KleibanParticipant]

Very good observation Benjamin.

We have yet to master this function of using the #1 (gk) as our link between the center backs on goal kick build out (a la Victor Valdes) since we don’t have a full time gk coach that works with them specifically on this aspect of the game.  That is something we are currently working on at chivas usa.

At Barcelona for example, every goalkeeper session I’ve seen at various age groups (u9 to the 1st team) works a majority of the time with the gk passing and receiving more so then actual shot stopping activities known to us stateside.

Obviously, we have to do a better job of training our gk (our deficiency at 3four3) since Gary and I claim ZERO expertise on this topic haha.  Also, identifying gk’s that have good technique with their feet and implementing them in all rondos to improve their short game helps.  The GK coach would be the one working on their long range passing game.

[BenParticipant]

Thanks, Brian. This makes alot of sense.

[BenParticipant]

Thanks, Gary!

[Justin AlmquistParticipant]

These are good questions regarding the GK because I was wondering the same.  The other benefit to dropping the D-Mid is that there is extra cover if (when) the ball gets turned over, which is something that will probably happen quite a bit with most young players.

My question is regarding the activity and adding pressure.  Do you ever add any defenders (i.e. the opposing teams 2 or 3 forwards pressuring the ball)?  One argument would be that the players are not making decisions and thus the activity is not game-like, however the other argument is to ensure success by not having any defenders.

Thanks,

Justin

[Phil WeberParticipant]

Sure you can add defenders. From what I have gathered, you need to 5v0 first to gain correct tactics. You can make more challenging by increasing the speed at which they play 5v0 then have a 5v3. Count how many 5 pass combos they can successfully make, how fast can they play, and once you feel they are getting better add another defender (5v4). If you go straight to 5v5 you will probably get crap. Layer it and as your team gets better 5v5 is possible, but 5v0 is a great warm up drill to concentrate on technique, tactics, and progress to full speed. Other ideas, if you play 11v11 would be 8v4 or any combination — going from small spaces to larger/full defensive 1/3 size space.

[David WilliamsParticipant]

One of the greatest coaches I have known, has said that goal keepers should become confident as an outfield player before they specialise for 3 reasons. One is many kids want to go out on to pitch and give up being a keeper at a later date, then find out they struggle on  pitch, due to not enough game time. Secondly there is no guarantee they will grow tall enough. Lastly keepers need to be good with their feet and so training like all the other children is critical. This is not to say that goal keeping training is not beneficial, just do not stick them in goal every game.

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