Middle Third Drill – Find the Forward and Go

By: Len Lolla

Originally Published in: Attacking Soccer - Human Kinetics

Organization
Set up a full-size field for an 11v11 tactical team session. Although this game does not need to be 11v11, the numbers should allow the teams to play in three lines to promote functional play among the forward, midfield, and defense. Adjust the field size if you are training fewer players.

Procedure

1. An attacking team (A) starts in possession of the ball. The other team (B) defends in a counterattacking position, closer to its own goal.
2. When the defending team dispossesses the attacking team, it gets a free opportunity to play the first pass into the forward without being obstructed. The forward must receive it in an onside position and has only two touches to connect with the midfielders in support.
3. Once the ball is connected to the forward, the original attacking team begins to defend the counter.

Key Points

• This exercise resembles game situations and makes the training more functional according to positions.
• This exercise encourages the midfielders to look forward first once they win possession. Likewise, with the forward allowed only two touches, the midfielders must move in support to maintain possession and continue the counter.
• Once the defending team gets behind the ball and limits the space to play, it is important for the attacking team to break down the opponent by moving the ball quickly. To maintain possession in the opponent's half, where time and space are at a premium, requires efficient movement of the ball. Finding and creating the space to penetrate takes patience and is often less direct. Training the midfielders to effectively use space is critical in being successful in the attacking half.

Variations

• The progression of the exercise is to allow team A to defend the passer once the ball is lost in possession, still allowing the forward to receive the ball once it is delivered. This step forces the midfielders to combine to create the first passing opportunity to the forward. If the first player to win possession is closed down and does not have the opportunity to play forward, supporting players must stay involved in the play and create the next possible opportunity. Again, the emphasis should be placed on how quickly they can play forward.
• Finally, the game can continue live, so once team B loses the ball, it is forced to get back behind the ball into a counterattacking position. In this case, when the game is live, only when the ball is won in its own half is team B given a free ball into the forward.