This document outlines four soccer drills for an U11-U12 age group aimed at improving playing out of the back. The drills include: 1) A 2v1 drill starting from a goal kick to practice passing from defense to offense. 2) Another 2v1 drill where players in the middle can pass forward or cross to the other attacker. 3) A drill where fullbacks pass to outside midfielders or forwards, creating 3v1 situations to goal. 4) A drill focusing on fullback overlaps where the goalkeeper can pass short or long, creating overlapping runs.

1. ECLIPSE SOCCER CLUB
U11 – U12 AGE GROUP
2010-2011
Date March
Topic Playing out of the back
Objectives Improve passing from defense to offense
Activity 1: 2v1 from goalkick
Duration: 15 minutes - Divide your
players as soon in picture
In a 60x35 yard with 2 goals and a 10
yard zone in the middle.
Objective: The GK or player starts the
play dribbling the ball and passing it to
one of the two players in the middle
with enough pace that D1 doesn’t get it.
If defender steals it then he goes to
goal and closer attacking player comes
back. If pass it’s successful then two
attacking players play 2v1 to goal. If
D2 steals ball he must find D1 who
goes to goal.
Coaching Points: Pace of pass, receive
the ball with furthest foot, commit
defender…
Activity 2: 2v1 play the ball forward
Duration: 20 minutes - Divide your
players as soon in picture
In a 60x35 yard with 2 goals and a 10
yard zone in the middle.
Objective: Same as before to start, but
once the players in the middle get the
ball the decide whether:
3. to play the front player or
4. cross the point of attack to the
second attacking player
Front players have two/three
touches to play ball back
Coaching Points: Pace of pass, receive
the ball with furthest foot, commit
defender…
Activity 3: Fullback pass to OM or
FWD (3v1)
Duration: 20 minutes - - Divide your
players as soon in picture
In a 60x35 yard with 2 goals and a 10
yard zone in the middle.
Objective: Now Gk plays short to
fullbacks, once they get the ball the
decide whether:
1. to play with the outside mid or
2. To play forward to the center
player
They finish with a 3v1 to goal
Coaching Points: Pace of pass, receive
the ball with furthest foot, commit
defender, decide whether to play wide
or forward, show for ball, time of run…
Activity 4: Fullback overlap
Duration: 20 minutes - Divide your
players as soon in picture
In a 60x35 yard with 2 goals and a 10
yard zone in the middle.
Objective: Once the fullbacks got wide,
Gk decide whether:
1. to play short to fullback or
2. To play forward to the outside
mid.
Try to create overlapping situations with
fullbacks
Coaching Points: Pace of pass, receive
the ball with furthest foot, commit
defender, decide whether to play wide
or forward, show for ball, time of run…
D1
D2
1
2
12