Three-Zone Match with Protected Build-Up
7v7 with goalkeepers. The defending team may not press in the opponents' build-up zone and waits in the middle zone; a goal only counts if no outfield attacker is left in their own build-up zone.
- Age
- U13–Senior
- Players
- 14–18
- Duration
- 24 min
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Area
- 60 × 40 m
- Type
- Tactical
- Approach
- Global
- Format
- Match
- Objectives
- Tactical: Build-up play, Defensive organisation, Decision making
- Concepts worked on
Training diagram
Legend
- Attacker
- Defender
- Goalkeeper
- Pass
- Run without ball
- Dribble
- Ball
- Cone
- Goal
Each team has a build-up zone in front of its goal and both share a middle zone. While the ball is in a build-up zone, the defending team must wait in the middle zone, as a team that drops into a mid-block does. The team in possession can build up calmly but, to score, the whole team has to move up together out of its build-up zone, so nobody stays behind and the lines stay close.
Objective
Build up against a mid-block and move up together as a team; without the ball, defend compactly in the middle zone and press when the ball enters it.
Organisation
- 60 × 40 m pitch with a goal and goalkeeper at each end, split into three zones: an 18 m build-up zone in front of each goal and a 24 m middle zone.
- Two teams of seven plus goalkeepers (6v6 or 8v8 depending on the group; for 8v8 use 70 × 50 m).
- Spare balls in both goals.
How it works
- Every attack starts from the goalkeeper. While the ball is in the build-up zone of the team in possession, no defender may enter that zone: they wait in the middle zone or further back.
- As soon as the ball leaves the build-up zone, by a pass or a dribble, the defending team may press anywhere. If the ball is then played back into the build-up zone, they may follow it and press there too.
- A goal only counts if, when the shot is taken, no outfield player of the attacking team is in its own build-up zone. Otherwise, goal kick.
- If the defending team wins the ball in the middle zone and scores within 10 seconds, the goal counts double.
- After a goal, a goal kick or a ball out over the end line, play restarts from the goalkeeper with the protected build-up. Throw-ins and fouls as in a normal match.
- 3 × 8 minutes with 2 minutes of rest.
Coaching points
- Build-up: centre-backs split wide and the goalkeeper acts as an extra player to create a 3v2 against the first pressers.
- Midfielders: move into the gaps between the opponents' lines and receive with an open body.
- Leave the zone with the ball under control, not with a long ball nobody can win: once it leaves, the pressure arrives.
- When the ball leaves the zone, the last line pushes up at once to the middle zone: move up together.
- Defending team: stay compact, about 10 m between lines, block passes inside and jump to press when the ball enters the middle zone.
Progressions
- The team in possession has 8 seconds to get the ball out of its build-up zone, or loses it.
- The goal only counts if all outfield attackers are in the opponents' half when the shot is taken.
- Next step: the three-zone match with pressing triggers, where the defending team may press in the build-up zone after certain signals.
Regressions
- A neutral who plays with the team in possession only inside its build-up zone.
- The goal counts if no more than one outfield player stays in the build-up zone.
Variations
- Each team defends with a fixed shape (for example 1-3-2-1) and must keep its lines when dropping into the middle zone.
Key principles
- Build up to progress, not just to keep the ball.
- Attack and defend as a block.
- Wait together, press together.
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