Playing Out From The Back
Pressure Third Line Break
Break the opposition line with a forward pass
Playing Out From The Back
Passing
Team Shape
Pressure Third Line Break is a 18-minute playing out from the back drill for 8-18 players, suitable for Under 11 to Adults at intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, bibs. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.
Back to drill libraryPlaying Out From The Back
Passing
Team Shape
Skill Practice
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Under Pressure
Duration
18 min
Players
8-18
Pitch size
38 x 28 yards
Ability levels
Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Pressure Third Line Break — Marked area · 38 x 28 yards
Step 1 of 5The back zone must beat the first line with a pass into the middle zone.
- 1. The back zone must beat the first line with a pass into the middle zone.
- 2. The middle player turns and finds the front zone.
- 3. A completed three-zone sequence scores a point.
- 4. The defender is released the moment the ball leaves the server's foot.
- 5. The working player scores by completing the action before pressure arrives; the defender scores by blocking it.
- Cones mark the area
- Dashed lines = zones / thirds
- Ball
- C = coach / server
- Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble
Objectives
- -Break the opposition line with a forward pass
- -Coach the receiving position between the lines
- -Progress the ball with control, not hope
Setup
- 1Three horizontal zones with a defensive line between each in a 38 x 28 yards area.
- 2Position a recovering defender behind each working player, starting two yards back.
- 3Balls in the back zone, two sets of bibs.
Coaching instructions
- 1The back zone must beat the first line with a pass into the middle zone.
- 2The middle player turns and finds the front zone.
- 3A completed three-zone sequence scores a point.
- 4The defender is released the moment the ball leaves the server's foot.
- 5The working player scores by completing the action before pressure arrives; the defender scores by blocking it.
Coaching points
- -Pass to the far foot to help the turn
- -Receive on the half turn between the lines
- -Bounce back and switch if the line is closed
- -Feel the pressure with your body, take the touch away from the defender
Common mistakes
- -Forcing the pass into a covered player
- -Middle players hiding behind opponents
- -Facing your own goal and getting trapped by the press
Where this drill fits
- More football playing out from the back drills
- More football passing drills
- More football team shape drills
- football drills for U12s
- football drills for U14s
- football drills for U16s
- Football session plans built around this theme