Attacking
Underload Central Combination Attack
Combine centrally to open the defence
Attacking
Passing
Finishing
Underload Central Combination Attack is a 16-minute attacking drill for 5-16 players, suitable for Under 10 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, full goals. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.
Back to drill libraryAttacking
Passing
Finishing
Skill Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
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Full Squad
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Underload
Duration
16 min
Players
5-16
Pitch size
30 x 24 yards
Ability levels
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Underload Central Combination Attack — Finishing set-up — serve, receive, shoot · 30 x 24 yards
Step 1 of 5Midfielder plays into the striker who sets it back.
- 1. Midfielder plays into the striker who sets it back.
- 2. A one-two releases a runner into the box.
- 3. Finish first time wherever possible.
- 4. The attacking group starts a player short, so every entry pass has to be sharp.
- 5. Defenders score a point for every clean turnover; attackers need three clean end actions to win the round.
- Cones mark the area
- Full goal
- GK = goalkeeper
- C = coach / server
- Ball
- Dotted arrow = rotation between repetitions
- Shooter becomes the next server
- Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble
Objectives
- -Combine centrally to open the defence
- -Use one-twos and set-backs in tight areas
- -Finish quickly after the combination
Setup
- 1A central attacking zone in front of goal with three feeder cones in a 30 x 24 yards area.
- 2Add one extra defender to the working area and mark their start position with a flat cone.
- 3Balls at the feeder cones, keeper in goal.
Coaching instructions
- 1Midfielder plays into the striker who sets it back.
- 2A one-two releases a runner into the box.
- 3Finish first time wherever possible.
- 4The attacking group starts a player short, so every entry pass has to be sharp.
- 5Defenders score a point for every clean turnover; attackers need three clean end actions to win the round.
Coaching points
- -Set the ball with pace
- -Run the moment the set is played
- -First-time finish beats the recovery
- -Protect the ball and wait for the second runner rather than forcing it
Common mistakes
- -Set pass too soft
- -Runner waiting for the ball
- -Trying to beat two players instead of releasing early
Where this drill fits
- More football attacking drills
- More football passing drills
- More football finishing drills
- football drills for U10s
- football drills for U12s
- football drills for U14s
- football drills for U16s
- Football session plans built around this theme