Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Build up from the back through switching play (Start Time: 2026-04-28 21:00:00)
FAW Coach Ed
Nima Moazenizadeh
Description
This session focuses on improving the team’s ability to build out from the back and switch play effectively under pressure. The red team works on creating triangle support around the ball through coordinated movements between the centre backs and holding midfielders. As the ball moves across the back line, the holding midfielders rotate positions to constantly provide safe passing options and maintain possession.
Emphasis is placed on creating good angles and distances, recognizing moments to switch play, and progressing the ball forward through the attacking midfielders positioned between the lines. The session also develops players’ awareness, body shape, scanning, and decision making during the build up phase. Once possession is progressed successfully, the team looks to penetrate forward quickly and attack with purpose.
The practice is designed to be game realistic with continuous play and natural transitions, allowing players to develop tactical understanding and confidence while building from the back under pressure.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
20 mins
Small Sided Game – Building Out from the Back & Switching Play
Organization
- Area: Half pitch
- Players: 7v7 + GK
- Two big goals
- Red team vs Blue team
- Normal game rules with realistic restarts
- Ball always restarts naturally from where it goes out
- Coach manages tempo and interventions only
Team Shapes
Red Team (Coaching Focus)
Shape: 4–2–1
Blue Team
- Pressing team looking to force mistakes and regain possession high up the pitch
Session Objective
Improve the red team’s ability to:
- Build up from the back under pressure
- Switch play effectively through the back line
- Create triangles around the ball
- Rotate holding midfielders to support possession
- Recognize opportunities to penetrate forward
- Progress possession through attacking midfielders
Practice Description
The game is played under realistic match conditions with continuous play and natural restarts. The red team builds from the goalkeeper and centre backs while attempting to switch the game through coordinated movements between the centre backs and holding midfielders.
When one centre back has possession, the far-side holding midfielder drops deeper to create a passing option and form a triangle with the two centre backs. As the ball switches across the pitch, the holding midfielders rotate positions to constantly recreate triangle support around the ball.
The objective is to create good angles and numerical superiority during build up while moving the pressing team side to side. Once space is created centrally, the attacking midfielders provide forward passing options between the lines to help progress play and attack the opposition goal.
Blue team presses aggressively and attempts to force mistakes during the build up phase.
Key Coaching Points – Red Team
Triangle Support
- Always create three passing options around the ball
- Holding midfielder drops to support centre backs
- Good angles and distances between players
Rotation of Holding Midfielders
- Far-side holding midfielder drops toward the ball
- Opposite holding midfielder balances centrally
- Rotate quickly as the ball switches sides
Switching Play
- Move the ball quickly across the back line
- Switch play when one side becomes overloaded
- Use the goalkeeper to help circulation if needed
Playing Forward
- Attacking midfielders find spaces between lines
- Recognize moments to penetrate forward
- Play forward quickly once space opens
Body Shape & Awareness
- Open body shape when receiving
- Scan before receiving
- Receive on the back foot
Transition After Losing Possession
- Immediate counter press
- Nearest player reacts quickly
- Recover shape behind the ball
Play animation
Play step-by-step
Repeat (toggle)
Full Screen
Pause
Stop
15 mins
Specific, Building Out from the Back & Switching Play
Organization
Goals
Team Shape
Red Team (Coaching Focus)
Shape: 4-2-1
Blue Team
Shape: 3-3
Session Objective
Improve the red team’s ability to:
Practice Description
Play starts with the goalkeeper or centre backs. The red team attempts to build out from the back and switch the game through coordinated movements between the centre backs and holding midfielders.
When the left centre back has possession, the right holding midfielder drops deeper to create a passing option and form a triangle with the two centre backs. If the ball switches to the opposite side, the holding midfielders rotate positions and the far-side holding midfielder drops to support the ball side and recreate the triangle shape.
The objective is to create constant support angles and numerical superiority during build up while moving the opposition and opening central passing lanes. Once the triangle is established and space is created, the attacking midfielders provide forward passing options between the lines to help progress possession and score in the mini goals.
Blue team presses realistically and attempts to force mistakes during the build up phase.
The game remains continuous and realistic with normal restarts from wherever the ball leaves the field.
Key Coaching Points – Red Team
*****Creating Triangle Shapes*****
Rotation of Holding Midfielders (very important)
Switching Play
Playing Forward
Body Shape & Awareness
Transition After Losing Possession