Drill category
Football playing out from the back drills
Playing-out drills give players the pictures to build from the keeper: split centre backs, drop the midfielder, break the first line.
What to coach
- Width and depth first
- Break lines with the pass
- Recognise when to go long
All 49 football playing out from the back drills
Every drill below has its own page with the full set-up, step-by-step instructions, coaching points and progressions.
- Playing Out From The Back — playing out from the back drill, 25 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Goalkeeper Handling & Distribution — goalkeeping drill, 18 min, Under 8 to Adults
- Possession Through The Thirds — possession drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Build Up From Goal Kicks — playing out from the back drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Goalkeeper Distribution & Kicking — goalkeeping drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Sweeper Keeper Back Pass Practice — goalkeeping drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Building From The Keeper — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Third Man Build-Up — playing out from the back drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Split And Drive Out — playing out from the back drill, 16 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Beat The Press Game — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Defence To Attack Breakout — transition drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Keeper Distribution Station — goalkeeping drill, 15 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Back Pass Support Work — goalkeeping drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Overload Goalkeeper Distribution Zones — goalkeeping drill, 16 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Underload Goalkeeper Distribution Zones — goalkeeping drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Two-Touch Goalkeeper Distribution Zones — goalkeeping drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Tempo Goalkeeper Distribution Zones — goalkeeping drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Transition Goalkeeper Distribution Zones — goalkeeping drill, 16 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Pressure Goalkeeper Distribution Zones — goalkeeping drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Continuous Goalkeeper Distribution Zones — goalkeeping drill, 16 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Rotation Goalkeeper Distribution Zones — goalkeeping drill, 16 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Combination Goalkeeper Distribution Zones — goalkeeping drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Wide Channel Goalkeeper Distribution Zones — goalkeeping drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Counter Goalkeeper Distribution Zones — goalkeeping drill, 16 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Finishing Goalkeeper Distribution Zones — goalkeeping drill, 16 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Overload Build-Up Shape — playing out from the back drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Underload Build-Up Shape — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Two-Touch Build-Up Shape — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Tempo Build-Up Shape — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Transition Build-Up Shape — playing out from the back drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Pressure Build-Up Shape — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Continuous Build-Up Shape — playing out from the back drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Rotation Build-Up Shape — playing out from the back drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Combination Build-Up Shape — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Wide Channel Build-Up Shape — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Counter Build-Up Shape — playing out from the back drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Finishing Build-Up Shape — playing out from the back drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Overload Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Underload Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Two-Touch Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Tempo Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Transition Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Pressure Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Continuous Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Rotation Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Combination Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Wide Channel Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Counter Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Finishing Third Line Break — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Drills by age group
Playing Out From The Back drill questions coaches ask
How many football playing out from the back drills are there on Football Coach Hub?
There are 49 football playing out from the back drills in the library, each with a setup, coaching points, common mistakes, a progression and a regression so you can run it with mixed abilities.
What equipment do I need for playing out from the back drills?
Most drills need only a ball per player, cones and bibs. You can filter the drill library by the kit you actually have, including mini goals, full goals, poles, ladders and rebound boards.
How long should a playing out from the back practice last?
Ten to fifteen minutes on one technical practice is usually enough before players need a change of picture. Follow it with the same theme inside a small-sided game.
Playing out from the back at grassroots level
Playing out starts with the shape, not the pass. Split the centre backs wide of the box, drop one midfielder into the space in front of them and the pictures appear without anybody being told where to run.
Give the goalkeeper permission to go long when the press is on. Playing out is a choice, not a rule, and forcing it in a mud-heavy grassroots pitch costs goals.
- Width from the full backs, depth from the goalkeeper.
- One midfielder always available between the lines.
- First pass forward when the press is beaten.
- Long is the right answer when the pass out is not on.
Other drill categories
Ready to plan your next training session?
Tell us your age group, player numbers, session length and focus — Football Coach Hub builds the full session, warm up to cool down.
7 days of full access, no card required, cancel any time.