Possession
Penetration Game 6v6: Play Through the Midfield Line
Keep the ball on the ground and move the opposition midfield line until a gap opens, recognise the moment to play through it into a striker, and react at once when the line is broken or the ball is lost.
Duration
20 min
Total drill time
Players
12
Recommended
Pitch
24 × 40 m
Setup space
Level
Intermediate
Skill required
Intensity
High
Physical demand
Age band
U11-U12
6v6
Setup & instructions
Mark an area 24 m wide and 40 m long and split it across its length into four zones: an 8 m end zone at each end and two 12 m middle zones. Put two mini goals on each end line, about 14 m apart, facing in. Two teams of six, each a midfield four and two strikers. Each team's four play in one middle zone and their two strikers wait in the end zone behind the other team's four, so the four on the ball face the other four with their own strikers beyond them. The coach plays a ball in to one four from the side at the middle line. The four on the ball keep it on the ground and pass it across their zone to move the other four, and when a gap opens they play through the line into a striker, who attacks the two mini goals in that end zone. The four without the ball defend as a line: the player opposite the ball steps up to the middle line to press, the other three hold in their zone. Once the line is broken, the midfielders who were played through may recover into their end zone to defend; everyone else stays in their zone. If the defending four win the ball, the direction changes and they start their own attack at once. After a goal the coach plays a new ball in to the team that conceded. Play 4 minute games and keep score.
Setup time: 10 min
Tactical breakdown
This directional positional game is built around one moment: the pass that goes through the opposition midfield line into a striker. The area is 24 m wide and 40 m long, split across its length into four zones, with two mini goals on each end line. Each team has a midfield four and two strikers. The fours play in the two middle zones, facing each other across the middle line, and each team's strikers wait in the end zone behind the other four.
The four on the ball keep it on the ground and move it across their zone. The defending four work as a linked line: the player opposite the ball steps up to the middle line to press, and the other three hold. Every pass makes the line slide, and every slide can open a gap. When the presser steps up, the quickest way past is a skip pass, missing out the nearest teammate to find the one beyond. A switch while the line is still across often finds the far side open, and that is the moment to play through, ideally first time, before the gap closes.
The strikers stay apart and show in the gap between two defenders, so the passer has a clear line. Once the ball is through, they have time to attack the mini goals, but not much: the midfielders who were played through may recover into their end zone. Lose the ball and the game turns round at once, with the other four starting their own attack. So both teams practise the two reactions the game is built on: recover when you are played through, and attack or defend the moment possession changes.
How to run this drill
- Set up the four zones. Mark 24 m wide and 40 m long, split into an 8 m end zone, two 12 m middle zones and an 8 m end zone. Put two mini goals on each end line, about 14 m apart.
- Place the teams. Two teams of six. Each team's four play in one middle zone; its two strikers wait in the end zone behind the other team's four.
- Move the line. The coach plays in to one four. They keep it on the ground and pass across their zone while the player opposite the ball presses and the other three hold.
- Play through the gap. When a gap opens, play through the line into a striker, who attacks the mini goals. The midfielders played through may recover.
- Turn it round. If the defending four win the ball, they attack straight away the other way. After a goal the coach plays a new ball in to the team that conceded.
Coaching focus
FROM SESSION PLANCoaching points
- Scan the other four before the ball arrives: where is the presser, where is the gap
- Keep it on the ground and move it quickly, so the line has to slide
- When the presser steps up, skip the next player and find the one beyond
- Switch it while the line is still across: the gap is often on the far side
- Play through first time when the gap is there, it closes fast
- Strikers: stay apart and show in the gap between two defenders
- Defenders: the presser comes from the inside and shows the ball down the line, the other three stay connected
- Played through? Turn and recover at once, between the ball and the goal
- Lose it and react first: the other four attack straight away
Common mistakes
- Passing straight into the presser instead of skipping him
- Moving the ball slowly, so the line never has to slide and no gap opens
- Forcing a pass through the line when there is no gap
- Both strikers showing in the same gap
- The whole defending four stepping up together, leaving gaps behind them
- Midfielders who were played through watching instead of recovering
- Switching off after a turnover instead of attacking or defending at once
Progressions & regressions
VARIATIONSProgressions
- Two touches maximum in the middle zones
- A goal only counts after a skip pass in the build-up
- Allow three midfielders to recover once the line is broken
- Give the four on the ball 15 seconds to play through, or the ball goes to the other four
Regressions
- Make the middle zones wider so the gaps open more easily
- Only the presser may defend in the middle zone; the other three must hold their line
- No recovery: once the line is broken the striker goes 1v0
- Free touches for the four on the ball
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