Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Match Prep - Breaking a Mid-Block with 3-4-1-2 Build-Up

FAW Coach Ed

Matthew Evans

Profile Summary

Name:	Matthew Evans
City:	Windsor
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

Session Theme:

"Playing Through or Around a Mid-Block: Central Manipulation & Wide Progression"

Session Structure:

Duration: 3 x 6-minute blocks
Interventions: 2-minute intervals between blocks using tactics board
Initial Framing: 2 minutes – tactical objectives, roles, and outcomes

Formation:
- Red Team: 3-4-1-2 (in possession)
- Blue Team: 3-4-1-2 (out of possession, mid-block)
Start Point: All dead ball restarts from Red GK, including goal kicks and throw-ins
Success Criteria (Red Team): Breaking the press and progressing beyond the halfway line
Success Criteria (Blue Team): Win possession and score within 8 seconds

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Block 1

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Block 1

Block 1 – Blue Mid-Block:

Blue 10 positions between both Red CMs to prevent central progression
Blue front two screen central areas and engage Red’s back three, preventing Red from accessing advanced midfielders

Red Team Solution:

Central Centre-Back (CCB) carries the ball forward to engage the Blue CFs, provoking a press.
When pressure is applied, CCB releases the ball wide to LCB or RCB, who have stepped wider than the penalty box, positioned outside the winger’s shoulder.
The receiving CB then drives past the first line of pressure, drawing out Blue wide midfielders and creating:
- A 2v1 wide with the wing-back,
- Or a pass inside into the CM, who is positioned beyond the first line between the Blue 10 and CM pair.

Positional Roles & Structure:

LCB/RCB: Position outside the width of the penalty box. Stretch opposition front line to open central and diagonal passing lanes.
CCB: Dictates direction of build by committing central pressure.
GK: Maintains involvement as an additional player for switches or resets.
Wing-Backs: High and wide to stretch horizontal compactness. Drop temporarily to offer support or rotate on switches.
CMs: Occupy spaces between the Blue CM pair and 10, receiving behind pressure or engaging in rotations.
CFs: One stays high to pin the back line; the other drops to create a temporary box midfield, unsettling Blue’s central unit.

Key Coaching Points:

Patient Circulation: Maintain rhythm, draw pressure, and provoke movement before penetration.
CB Timing: Central CB must carry with conviction to engage first line before releasing.
Wide Overloads: Use LCB/RCB stepping out to combine with wing-back or access advanced midfielders.
Midfield Rotations: Encourage CMs and second striker to rotate into different lines to unbalance the Blue block.
Wing-Back Movement: Hold width and height; drop deeper only when ball is switched to offer layered support.
Coach Interventions:

“Can the middle CB commit a forward before releasing?”
“Are we stretching their front three enough to open passing lanes?”
“Midfield — when do we rotate, and when do we hold our line?”
“Wing-back — can you time your movement to create a 2v1 wide or receive inside?”

Player Learning Outcomes:

Identify and exploit the structural limitations of a mid-block.
Apply principles of overload, timing, and positional superiority.
Coordinate defensive engagement to manipulate space and free key players.
Switch play as a tool to isolate or create second-phase superiority.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Block 2

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Block 2

Block 2: Opposition Changes to a High Press

The Blue team has transitioned from a mid-block to an aggressive high press:

The Blue No.10 presses the central centre-back (CCB).
The Blue strikers block passing lanes into Red's central midfielders (CMs).
Blue wing-backs jump early to press the wide centre-backs (LCB/RCB) on the first pass.
The opposite Blue CB tucks in, going 2v2 at the back, allowing the near CB to cover the advancing Red wing-back.

Red Team Tactical Solution:

The Red wing-back (WB) becomes the key outlet, receiving the ball to drive forward and initiate 3v3 attacks.
When pressed by the Blue WB, the Red CB bounces the ball into the 10, who immediately plays a third-man pass to the WB — allowing Red to bypass the first line of pressure and escape.

Supporting Movements:

As the pass is played into the RCB or LCB, the nearest Red CM rotates inside to occupy central space.
- If the Blue CF follows this movement, it opens a passing lane into the 10, who can turn or link play.
- If not tracked, the CM receives freely and has time to switch the ball to the opposite WB, exploiting the vacated space.

What If – The Blue CM Man-Marks Ball-Side?

The Red No.10 drags the Blue CM away with a deeper or wider movement.
This creates:
- A direct pass into the centre-forward (CF), or
- Space for the WB to roll inside unopposed and receive between the lines.

Key Coaching Points:

Third-Man Concepts: Bounce-pass through the 10 to beat the WB press.
Timing of Movements: Midfielders and 10 must rotate and move early to manipulate markers.
Wide Outlet Awareness: Wing-backs must be ready to receive beyond the pressing wing-back or roll inside depending on cover.
Switch Play Recognition: Opposite side WB must anticipate switches and adjust position early.
Positional Triggers: Recognise when to attract pressure centrally to free wide progression.

Coach Interventions:

“Can you bounce the press off the 10 and escape with the wing-back?”
“Midfield — can you move into central space and force their front line to make a choice?”
“10 — where’s the overload? Drag them out to play someone in.”
“Wing-back — are you ready to go inside or outside depending on what the game gives you?”

Player Learning Outcomes:

Understand how to manipulate high pressing structures through rotations and third-man combinations.
Recognise when to play through, around, or over based on opponent behaviours.
Coordinate off-ball movements to create and exploit temporary overloads.
Switch and exploit opposite side spaces through structured team movement.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Block 3

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Block 3

"The Blue team are given tactical freedom to determine their pressing strategy based on the visual cues and positional reference points presented in the previous blocks."

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