BUILD-UP PLAYING

THROUGH LINES
AG E P H AS E : U 1 7 +
SESSION PLAN
SESSION OVERVIEW BUILD-UP PLAYING THROUGH LINES

LEVEL PART 3: KEY

6v6 +1 SMALL-SIDED GAME
• U17-First team Ball movement
• This is a small-sided-game in which the playing area is
split into two halves, applying the concepts learned in Player movement
PRINCIPLES OF PLAY Parts 1 and 2. without the ball
• The practice sees a group of 18 players split into three
• Controlled build-up play teams of five, two goalkeepers and one neutral player. Player movement
• Finding the spare player in an attacking overload Teams can rotate into the practice, with one team of with the ball
• Up, back and through actions five resting while the other two play.

PART 1:
3v3 +3 POSSESSION TO SMALL GOALS Players

• This practice is a small-scale, general possession game

to small goals in which the coach has the opportunity Cones
to introduce some of the key technical and tactical
components that will underpin Parts 2 and 3 of the
Flat marker
session.
• The practice sees a group of 18 players split into two
groups of nine.
Cones with
flat marker
PART 2:
5v5 +4 POSSESSION GAME
Goal
• This practice is a possession game in which the
objective is to build up playing through lines, while
continuing to have the up, back and through as an Mini-goal
option to continue the attack.
• The practice sees a group of 18 players split into two
teams of five and four neutral players, with four neutral
players resting and then rotating into the practice. Mannequin Pole

Football

AGE PHASE: U17+

3v3 +3 POSSESSION GAME BUILD-UP PLAYING THROUGH LINES

FUNCTION 1

• Diagram 1 begins with a 3v3 +2 in the first zone, with

the objective of linking play with the furthest neutral
player to activate a third-man run (up, back and
through).
• The team in possession (A) will utilise the neutral
players (C) in the first zone to maintain possession of
the ball in order to create space for passes into the
neutral player in the final zone.
• In the first zone, all players are allowed a maximum of
three touches.
• Before playing into the furthest neutral player, a
minimum of two passes need to be completed. The
inside neutral player cannot pass directly to the neutral
player in the final zone to initiate third-man play.
• Once the ball progresses into the final-zone neutral
player from a player on the possession team (A), the
neutral player closest to the central zone will position
to receive a set before playing a through ball for the
2
third-man run.
• Diagram 2 shows the neutral player (C) executing the
third-man pass while the opposition player (B) can
chase the runner from the possession team (A).
• Once in the final zone, the runner has one touch to
finish in one of the small goals.
• If the runner scores, their team begins with the next
ball. If no goal results or the ball goes out of bounds,
the opposition team (B) will begin with possession.

AGE PHASE: U17+

3v3 +3 POSSESSION GAME BUILD-UP PLAYING THROUGH LINES

COACHING DETAIL: TECHNICAL COACHING DETAIL:

MANAGING THE OPPOSITION
POSITIONING
• In the 3v3 +2 situation, neutral players provide • Out of possession, aggressive pressing must be applied,
maximum depth while two players from the possession forcing the team in possession to play around rather
team provide maximum width with heels on the than through lines.
touchlines. One player is positioned centrally to create • If the team loses possession, they should use quick
triangles in order to maintain possession. counter-presses in an attempt to regain the ball in the
zone in which it was lost.
BODY POSITION
• Players need to be moving throughout the possession
zone, with a side-on body shape to receive on the back
foot and then play forward through the opponent.
• They must also maintain visual connection with deep
neutral play to move to open passing lines for a neutral
player to receive between lines.

PASS DETAIL
• Passes to move an opponent in possession phase must
be crisp and towards a teammate’s back foot to go
forward when they have space in front of them.
• Entry passes into the far-zone neutral player must be
fast-paced and on the ground in order for smooth sets
to initiate a clean up, back and through action.
• The final pass must be well weighted towards the
space that the runner is moving into, to allow for a
one-touch finish.

TIMING OF RUN
• All players on the possession team must be alert and
aware when entry pass is played into the far-zone
neutral player. As they are executing the set to the
middle neutral player, a minimum of two players should
be sprinting to receive the through pass to finish.

AGE PHASE: U17+

5v5 +4 POSSESSION GAME BUILD-UP PLAYING THROUGH LINES

FUNCTION 1

• Diagram 1 shows a 5v5 +4 possession practice with

three zones: two possession zones and one middle zone
for link play.
• The possession practice begins 3v3 +2 in the first zone,
with a 2v2 +2 in the furthest zone and no player in the
middle zone.
• The team in possession (A) will look to maintain
possession to create space for a pass into the neutral
player (C) closest to the midline in the far zone, in order
to set to a neutral player in the middle zone before
playing the ball across.
• Similar to the first practice, one player for the team in
possession (A) will make a third-man run for a possible
reception in the far zone, while one opposition player
(B) chases, creating another 3v3 +2 in the far zone.
• Diagram 2 shows the neutral player (C) executing a
pass into the far zone towards the third-man run (A),
before the team then works to keep possession again.
2
The pass into the far zone can be to the third-man run,
one of the other two teammates or a neutral player.
• To earn a goal, the team in possession must
successfully transfer the ball from one side to the other,
linking play in the middle zone.
• When possession is recovered by the defending team,
they must connect two passes before trying to play to
the opposite side.
• A new ball will begin with the opposite team on the
other side if ball is played out of bounds.

AGE PHASE: U17+

5v5 +4 POSSESSION GAME BUILD-UP PLAYING THROUGH LINES

COACHING DETAIL: TECHNICAL COACHING DETAIL: IN POSSESSION

POSITIONING MOVEMENTS OF FAR-ZONE ATTACKERS
• In the starting 3v3 +2 situation, neutral players provide • The two attackers waiting for the ball to be transferred
maximum depth while two players from the possession to their side must be co-ordinating their movements to
team provide maximum width with heels on the ensure multiple passing lines are available to the neutral
touchlines. The other player is positioned centrally to player executing pass across.
create triangles in order to maintain possession. • They should use two movements: to lose their marker,
but also to move inside to create space for the through
BODY POSITION run outside them.
• Players need to be moving throughout the possession
zone, with a side-on body shape to receive on the back
foot and then play forward through the opponent. COACHING DETAIL:
• They must also maintain visual connection with deep MANAGING THE OPPOSITION
neutral play to move to open passing lines for a neutral
player to receive between lines. • Out of possession, aggressive pressing must be applied,
forcing the team in possession to play around rather
PASS DETAIL than through lines.
• Passes to move an opponent in possession phase must • If the team loses possession, they should use quick
be crisp and towards a teammate’s back foot to go counter-presses in an attempt to regain the ball in the
forward when they have space in front of them. zone in which it was lost.
• Entry passes into the far-zone neutral player must be
fast-paced and on the ground in order for smooth sets
to initiate a clean up, back and through action.
• The final pass must be well weighted towards the
space that the runner is moving into, to allow for a
one-touch finish.

TIMING OF RUN
• All players on the possession team must be alert and
aware when entry pass is played into the far-zone
neutral player. As they are executing the set to the
middle neutral player, a minimum of two players should
be sprinting to receive the through pass to finish.

AGE PHASE: U17+

6v6 +1 SMALL-SIDED GAME BUILD-UP PLAYING THROUGH LINES

FUNCTION 1

• The 6v6 +1 small-sided game is marked by a halfway

line: 3+GK v3 +1 on one side and 2v2+GK on the other
side.
• The team in possession (A) defends the goal to the left,
while the opposing team (B) defends goal to the right.
• Diagram 1 shows Team A building with their goalkeeper
to play through Team B. The objective is to build up to
link play with one of their two attackers in the other half
of the field.
• Diagram 2 shows that once the pass is played into the
other half of the field, the neutral player (C) will position
to receive a set, while another player from Team A
makes a third-man run and one player from Team B
chases, creating a 3v3+GK +1 situation in the other half.
• Once the pass is played into the attacking half, the play
becomes normal; it is not mandatory for the set to be
played to the neutral player.
• Once in the attacking half, the attacking team will have
2
6 seconds to score.
• If the defending team recovers the ball in their attacking
half, they can score within 6 seconds. If the defending
team recovers the ball in their own half, two passes
must be completed before they attack in the
opposite direction.
• If the attacking team scores, a new ball will begin
back with their own goalkeeper. If the ball goes out of
bounds, it will begin with the opposition goalkeeper for
the 3+GK v3 +1 build-up.

AGE PHASE: U17+

6v6 +1 SMALL-SIDED GAME BUILD-UP PLAYING THROUGH LINES

COACHING DETAIL: IN POSSESSION COACHING DETAIL:

OFFENSIVE TRANSITION
BALL ROTATION
• Use 2-3 passes on one side of the pitch, with the • When possession is regained in the attacking half, focus
goal of rotating the ball to the opposite side before on securing the first pass in order to have space to
playing through the opposition. The player receiving finish the play. Attackers should quickly readjust their
the ball will need to first look to depth to play through body position to be side-on, in order that they can
opposition. If not available, continue rotating the ball execute shooting technique.
until spaces appear. • When possession is regained in the defensive half,
quickly secure possession with the pass while quickly
MOVEMENTS OF TWO ATTACKERS repositioning to offer full width and depth.
• The two attackers waiting for the ball to be transferred
to their side must be co-ordinating their movements to
ensure multiple passing lines are available to the neutral COACHING DETAIL:
player executing pass across. MANAGING THE OPPOSITION
• They should use two movements: to lose their marker,
but also to move inside to create space for the through • Out of possession, aggressive pressing must be applied,
run outside them. forcing the team in possession to play around rather
than through lines.
SUPPORT OF ATTACKERS • If the team loses possession, they should use quick
• As the ball is travelling through the opposition and counter-presses in an attempt to regain the ball in the
into the two attackers on the other half of the pitch, a half in which it was lost.
minimum of two players (neutral plus one more) must
be ready to offer the attacker in possession support to
guarantee possession.

FAST ATTACKS
• Take advantage of the temporary 3+1 v2 situation
as the ball enters the attacking half, by using quick
combinations and overlapping actions to create
space for scoring chances.

AGE PHASE: U17+