Off-the-ball intelligence — spacing, support angles and creating room
25 drillsHold the touchline to stretch the pitch and open central space. Teaches the value of staying wide....
Offer support at an angle, never directly behind or beside the ball. Teaches giving the passer good ...
Position in the space between defensive lines to receive and turn. Teaches finding and using the poc...
Keep good triangles so there are always two passing options. The base shape of possession play....
Check your shoulders before receiving so you know your options early. Builds the habit of constant s...
Receive side-on so you can see the whole pitch and play forward. Teaches the open stance that unlock...
Constantly adjust position to stay available for a pass. Teaches never standing still off the ball....
Time movement against the last defender to stay onside. Teaches awareness of the offside line....
Occupy the half-space between full-back and centre-back to receive dangerously. Modern positional pl...
Spread out so the team occupies the full width and depth. Teaches collective spacing in possession....
Drop into space to receive and start the build-up from deep. Teaches showing for the ball when neede...
Position so you can be the third man receiving off a set. Teaches reading combination patterns....
Swap positions fluidly so markers lose track of who to follow. Teaches positional rotation....
Position to occupy a defender and free space for a teammate. Teaches selfless positioning....
Find space between midfield and defence to turn and attack. Teaches the most dangerous receiving pos...
When out of possession, position compactly to deny space. Teaches defensive shape off the ball....
Hold width to stretch, then underlap inside when the gap opens. Teaches reading when to change posit...
Position close enough to support a striker holding the ball up. Teaches linking with the front man....
Position the far side ready to receive a switch and attack space. Teaches anticipating the change of...
When a teammate presses, shift to cover the space behind. Teaches defensive positioning as a unit....
Position to outnumber the opponent in one area of the pitch. Teaches engineering a numerical advanta...
Time the run into the box to arrive on a cross. Teaches positioning for the finish....
Maintain team shape under pressure rather than chasing the ball. Teaches positional discipline....
Make a decoy run to pull a defender and open space for a teammate. Teaches positioning to create for...
A possession game with zones forcing players to hold positions and rotate. The all-in-one positionin...