Keep a teammate behind the attack
Keep a useful supporting player behind the ball during an attack, and exchange that job when the player advances.
Check the problem
All three teammates run beyond the ball. The carrier has no backward option and a lost pass leaves a direct route toward home. A player permanently parked by the end line solves involvement poorly. Practise sharing the supporting job as the attack changes.
Set up the space and roles
Use four cones for an 18 × 24 m rectangle and two side cones to show halfway. Leave 2 m clear outside, making a 22 × 28 m footprint. Team A is 1/2/3; B is 4/5/6. There is one ball, no goalkeeper and no fixed defensive player. Score by carrying under control over the far end line. Team A attacks right in the first two diagrams.
Keep the rotation clear
Focused round starters are 1, 4 and 2; game starters are 5, 3 and 6. Teammates alternate subsequent restarts. Roles change during play: the player moving beyond the ball checks that a teammate has become available behind. Each trio discusses a different child’s supporting choice at each pause.
See the practice in three steps
Schematic views, not to scale. Player numbers match the roles below. Dark arrows show passes, dashed green arrows show movement and solid green arrows show carries. Use the written dimensions when marking your area.
1. See an option behind the ball
2. Exchange the rear-support job
3. Support before a possible turnover
Your complete 30-minute plan
Briefing, planned role changes, water and reflection are included. Add rest or stop when needed; shorten active play rather than rushing a transition.
00:00–03:00 · 3 min
Check, explain and walk the layout
Walk an attack with 1 on the ball, 2 ahead and 3 behind at a visible diagonal angle. Ask 1 to show both passing options. Let 3 pass forward and advance; before 3 goes beyond the new carrier, another teammate takes the supporting position. Nobody has to stand on halfway or guard a cone.
03:00–08:00 · 5 min
Prepare the movement
Give A two minutes to rehearse without opposition while B observes from its own half, then swap for two minutes. Use a 30-second pause after each. Rotate the starting carrier on every reset. The observer names who is behind the ball and whether that player offers a pass rather than hiding directly behind an opponent.
08:00–17:00 · 9 min
Focused practice and role changes
Play three rounds of 2 minutes 40 seconds with 20 seconds of rest. During natural stoppages, ask the attacking trio to identify its current rear support. Let the attack continue even if that position is briefly empty; freeze and rebuild once if all three repeatedly run ahead. A controlled end-line carry is one point. The rear player can advance when another teammate supplies the return angle. Defenders intercept ground passes only, keep 1 m from carriers and give moving players a clear path; no contact or challenges at feet.
17:00–19:00 · 2 min
Water and reset
Pause for water and check the surface and clear buffers. Keep the same marked playing area and its clear outside buffer. Extra rest takes priority; shorten the next playing block if needed.
19:00–28:00 · 9 min
Use it in a game
Play three more rounds of 2 minutes 40 seconds and 20-second pauses. Keep the ordinary end-line score and remove the identification prompts. Observe the position before a turnover and the first action after it. A useful rear player can offer a return while possession continues, or protect a central route from a safe gap after a loss. After a score or ball out, the other team restarts from its own end with opponents 3 m back. Allow a patient pass and a new advance; do not reward staying still or clearing the ball away.
28:00–30:00 · 2 min
Reflect and choose the next step
Ask who helped before the turnover occurred. A useful answer describes a passing option or protected route, rather than a permanent defender’s name.
Watch for a useful change
- A usable return angle exists before possession is lost.
- The rear-support job changes when that player advances.
- After a loss the nearby supporting player protects space without diving at feet.
Make it easier
Keep two opponents as stationary screens and one as an observer for a short rehearsal, then exchange teams. Walk the support handover.
When ready
Ask the rear support to use an open forward route when it appears while a teammate replaces them. Keep the same space and unrestricted touches.
Ask who helped before the turnover occurred. A useful answer describes a passing option or protected route, rather than a permanent defender’s name.
If conditions change
Stop active play when the surface, weather or available clear space is unsuitable. Use an indoor area only if it can hold the full written footprint and buffers. Otherwise keep the ball still, walk through the roles without pressure, and reschedule the live game. Extra rest takes priority over finishing the timetable.
Original Session Pitch practice. Open this file from the extracted folder with its three maps and stylesheet. Use your browser’s Print command to save a PDF. Field effectiveness has not been evaluated.