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Turning to exploit space in
central areas
Session overview
Part 1: Turn and give-and-go
Part 2: 7v7 multidirectional possession game (plus 1 neutral player)
Part 3: 6v6 game (plus goalkeepers and 1 neutral player)
Key coaching points
• When receiving the ball, take a touch in the direction in which you intend to pass
to speed up the movement and make it easier to play through the pressure.
• Play the ball into your team-mate’s feet when they are stationary and into their
path when they are on the move to make it easier for them to receive the pass.
• Make good decisions on the ball, based on your team-mates’ movement and the
opposition’s pressure.
• Do not force passes if they are risky and instead return the ball from whence it
came to retain possession.
• Wide players should be prepared to make runs off the central player at all times,
even before they have received the ball.
• Look to play passes into central areas to free up space for team-mates in wide
areas.
PART 1: GENERAL PRACTICE
Variation 2
This is an exercise aimed at improving how players react to losing the ball. They
will work with team-mates on pressing, covering space and anticipating as they
seek to achieve a swift regain.
Organisation
• Split the players into two groups of 7.
• Give each group two balls.
• Set up two playing areas adjacent to each other in one half of the pitch.
• Mark out a 5x5m zone in the middle of each playing area.
• Lay a cone 15m from the midpoint of each side of the central zone.
• Position 3 players inside the central zone.
• Place a player at each of the four cones.
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Explanation
• The exercise is performed with two balls in play at all times.
• The drill begins with two of the players in the central zone in possession.
• The two players with a ball in the central zone pass to any player positioned at a
cone.
• One of the players with a ball in the central zone should wait to play their pass
two seconds after the other player to ensure that there are 2 players in the
central zone at all times.
• The player follows their pass out of the central zone and performs a one-two
with their team-mate at the cone.
• After the player has played the return pass, they move to the cone occupied by
their team-mate at the start of the exercise.
• This team-mate, who began the exercise at the cone, then plays a pass to the
player situated in, or running into, the central zone.This receiving player then
begins the sequence again.
Variations
Variation 1
• Receiving players inside the central zone are limited to two touches.
Variation 2
• Receiving players in the central zone must turn and play to the opposite side of
the playing area.
Variation 3
• The sequence is performed in an anticlockwise direction.
Coaching points
• Players should time their movement into the central zone to ensure that they
receive the ball on the move.
• When receiving the ball, players should simultaneously turn and take a touch in
the direction they want to pass.
• By playing firm, accurate passes into their team-mates, players will make it
easier for them to perform the sequence.
• The receiving players in the central zone must look to turn as quickly as
possible.
• By delaying their runs into the central zone until a pass is about to be played,
players help to keep the tempo of the exercise high.
• When performing the give-and-go, players should pass using the foot closest to
the receiver. This helps to avoid “curled” and challenging passes that require the
receiver to take extra touches and slow the sequence down.
• The receiver of the give-and-go should make sure that they do not get ahead of
the ball to make it easier for their team-mate to find them with the return pass.
• Keep the ball moving at all times.
PART 2: 7V7 MULTIDIRECTIONAL POSSESSION GAME (PLUS
ONE NEUTRAL PLAYER)
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In the next part of the session, the principles of receiving and turning with the ball
in central areas that were worked on in the previous exercise are put into practice
in a small-sided possession game. This exercise gives players the opportunity to
work on these skills in an opposed scenario. It helps them to understand how
receiving and turning with the ball in central areas allows play to be progressed
into the final third, while working on the off‑the‑ball movement required to
achieve this.
Organisation
• Mark out a 40x40m playing area.
• Split the group into two teams of 7, plus a neutral player (green), who plays for
the in-possession team and operates centrally within the playing area at all
times.
• The blue team look to progress play vertically, while the orange team aim to
progress the ball horizontally.
• For each team, place a wall player and a goalkeeper at opposite ends of the
playing area (based on the direction in which they look to progress play, i.e.
vertically or horizontally).
Explanation
• The objective is for each team to continuously progress the ball from the wall
player to the goalkeeper and back again.
• The coach begins the exercise by rolling the ball to any player positioned in the
centre of the playing area.
• The in-possession team look to progress the ball to either the goalkeeper or the
wall player and back again.
• The out-of-possession team look to dispossess the opposition and progress the
ball to either their wall player or goalkeeper and back again.
• Each time a team progress the ball into their wall player, the passer and the wall
player swap positions.
• If a team progress the ball into their goalkeeper, the passer and the goalkeeper
do not swap positions.
• After a team have progressed the ball into the goalkeeper or wall player, they
then look to progress play back to the goalkeeper or wall player on the opposite
side of the playing area.
• The objective is for each team to retain possession for a sustained period, while,
at the same time, progressing play.
• Both teams must use the neutral player as much as possible, particularly as a
pivot.
Coaching points
• Players should either play the ball into their team-mate’s feet (when the
team-mate is stationary) or into their path (when they are on the move).
• Players should apply the principle of turning and taking a first touch in the
direction they wish to play.
• When a player receives the ball in a central area, the team-mates either side of
them must immediately move forward into space to offer passing options.
• To reduce the risk of losing possession, if the central player cannot play a
progressive pass, they should play the ball back to the goalkeeper or wall player.
• However, if a central player is not under pressure when they receive the ball,
they should look to turn and drive forward.
• The players who are ahead of the ball when the central player receives and turns
should immediately move forward to be in a position to receive high up the
pitch.
• Players should make good decisions on the ball and avoid forcing passes to
team-mates who are under pressure. If it is the safer option, players should
return the ball to whence it came to ensure that their team retain possession.
• Making short runs and drawing opposing players in can open up passing lanes
to allow passes to be played through defensive lines.
• Passes should only be played through one defensive line at a time to minimise
the risk of losing the ball.
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PART 3: 6V6 GAME (PLUS GOALKEEPERS AND 1 NEUTRAL
PLAYER)
The final exercise is a small-sided game that allows the players to work on
receiving and turning with the ball in central areas to create goalscoring
opportunities in the final third. The exercise focuses on the players’ ability to pass
the ball when under pressure in central areas to free up space for team-mates out
wide.
Organisation
• Mark out a 50x40m playing area with two full-size goals.
• Divide the group into two teams of 6, plus goalkeepers and a neutral player.
• Set each team up in a 3-1-2 formation.
• Ask the neutral player to play in central areas and act as an additional midfielder
for the in-possession team.
Explanation
• The exercise begins with one of the goalkeepers, who plays the ball to a
team-mate to start building the attack.
• The objective is to progress the ball into attack by playing through central areas.
• Each team look to retain possession and progress the ball to score.
• When the ball passes the halfway line, the defending team’s 2 forwards must
remain in the opposition’s half.
• When their team are attacking, 2 defenders must remain in their own half to
mark the 2 forwards. However, they can still participate in the build-up phase.
• One defender must join the attack when their team cross the halfway line.
• The neutral player must play an active role in the attacking phase at all times.
Variation
• Ensure that every goal matters by making the scoreline 1-0 to the scoring team.
For example, if the team that are trailing score a goal, they are awarded a 1-0
lead.
Coaching points
• When receiving the ball facing their own goal, players should remember the
principle of receiving and turning to open up the pitch.
• Players on the in-possession team must be patient, as it is better to wait for an
opportunity to pass rather than forcing a pass.
• The ideal time to launch an attack is when a midfielder or the neutral player
receives the ball in a central area.
• Players should make good decisions on the ball, based on their team-mates’
movement and the opposition’s pressure.
• Players should look to play passes into central areas to free up space for
team-mates out wide.
