Match moments / We have the ball
Five minutes left, one up
With a lead and little time left, the ball is safest in their half and at our feet. Keeping it there, while three players stay back, is better football than hoofing it away.
In the match
- Decision 1Full-back
- Decision 2Winger
- Decision 3Holding mid
You are 2, our right-back.
Their winger is closing you down. What do you do?
Play the build-up, then choose.
Best choice
The ball goes further from our goal and stays with us. Following the pass gives 7 a safe option back.
It can work
Safe for now, but it brings the ball back near our goal and lets their whole team push up.
Costly
It goes straight to their defenders, and they attack us again with the clock running down.
In the match, play carries on from the best choice.
You are 7, near their corner flag.
Their full-back is on you. What do you do?
Play what happened next, then choose.
Best choice
Body between them and the ball, and 2 is there as a safe pass. Every pass we keep up here is time they cannot attack.
It can work
A second goal would settle it, but if the cross is cut out they break with five minutes left.
Costly
Almost no chance of scoring, and it gives them a goal kick: the ball is theirs.
In the match, play carries on from the best choice.
You are 6, our holding midfielder.
We are keeping it high up. If we lose it, they break. Where are you?
Play what happened next, then choose.
Best choice
Three players staying back means a lost ball is not a breakaway. Attack with the rest, rest-defend with these three.
It can work
More options up the pitch, but if we lose it, only two defenders are left against their striker and midfielders.
Costly
You leave a huge gap in midfield, and the team behind the ball is far from the team with it.
How you know it is happening
- We are winning and there are a few minutes left.
- We have the ball in their half.
- Their team is pushing players forward.
Why it works
A team that keeps the ball in the other half cannot be scored against. The risk is losing it with everyone forward, so three players stay back the whole time. Time-wasting is not part of it: the referee adds the time back, and it is not how we play.
The tactics behind it
Your job, by position
- FBFull-back and wing-back
- Pass forward and follow, so there is always a pass back.
- WWinger and wide midfielder
- Keep the ball near their corner. Shield it, or play it back.
- DMHolding midfielder
- Stay behind the ball with the centre-backs.
- CBCentre-back
- Stay close to their striker.
How to explain it
- Say it plainly: we keep the ball, we do not waste time.
- Show the three players who stay back, and the rest who keep the ball.
On the training pitch
- On your ownNeeds a friend or the teamIt is about reading other players, so there is no honest way to practise it alone.
- The practiceRondo: 4 against 1The same decision, over and over, with a little pressure.
- The gameEnd-zone gameA small-sided game set up so the moment keeps happening.
Set the game up so it keeps happening
- The team that leads keeps the ball. They score a point for every eight passes in a row.
- The team behind scores double for a goal.
Three things to say
- Keep it in their half.
- Three stay back.
- Always a pass back.
On Saturday
Tick them off on the day. Nothing is saved: print the page if you want to keep it.
After the whistle
Ask yourself
- When we were winning late on, did we keep the ball?
What to look back on
- How often did we give it straight back in the last five minutes?