Full-back and wing-back
Defend your side, then give the team width and an extra attacker down the flank.
Six-week programme for full-back and wing-backs
Where you stand
The same player, four different moments. Play it through and watch how the team's tactic moves you. You are the solid orange player; your teammates are orange rings.
Your job
What every coach will ask of you, whatever the tactic.
With the ball
- Get wide and high to give a pass down the side.
- Overlap the winger when they cut inside.
- Cross early and low when you get to the byline.
Without it
- Stop the cross. Show their winger down the line rather than inside to the goal.
- When the ball is on the far side, tuck in towards the centre-backs.
- Stay level with the back line, so you do not play anyone onside.
When it changes hands
- When we lose it and you are high, sprint back on the inside, between the ball and the goal.
- When we win it, your run down the side is often the first option for a counter.
How tactics change your game
Your coach's tactic decides a lot of what you do. Here is the same position under different plans.
Wide in possession
You are the width. Stay on the touchline and run past the winger.
Narrow in possession
The winger stays wide, so you step inside, closer to the midfield, as an extra passer and a guard against the counter.
Show outside
Stand slightly inside their winger so they have to go down the line, where the touchline helps you.
Show inside
Stand slightly outside, pushing them inside where our midfield is waiting to help.
Back four
As a full-back you defend first and attack when it is safe.
Back five
As a wing-back you cover the whole flank, and give all of the team's width. It is the most running of any position.
Try it yourself: change the tactic in the team builder and tap your position to see your job change.
Roles in this position
Coaches ask for different versions of the same position. Know which one you are playing.
Full-back
Balanced: supports the attack, gets back fast.
With the ball. Give a passing option down the side, behind the winger.
Without. Stop the cross. When the ball is on the far side, tuck in towards the centre-backs.
Overlapping full-back
Bombs on past the winger to cross.
With the ball. Run round the outside when the winger comes inside. Arrive at the byline and cross low.
Without. Sprint back on the inside of your winger. Your job is still to stop the cross.
Inverted full-back
Steps into midfield beside the holding midfielder.
With the ball. When we have it, move inside next to the holding midfielder. It makes an extra passer in the middle and stops counter-attacks.
Without. Back to full-back as soon as we lose it.
Holding full-back
Stays back to make a back three.
With the ball. Stay back and slightly inside, so we have three at the back while others attack.
Without. Defend your side. You are already in position.
Wing-back
Covers the whole flank, gives all the width.
With the ball. You are the width. Stay touchline-wide and arrive high to cross.
Without. Drop into the back line to make five, unless the ball is high up the pitch.
Defensive wing-back
Joins the attack less, defends more.
With the ball. Support from behind the ball rather than racing past it.
Without. Drop into a back five straight away.
Practise it in three steps
First the technique on your own, then the decisions in a small game, then the whole team's idea in the match.
Step 1 On your own
dribbling · 10 min · Just you
Run with the ball, then stop it dead
Run with the ball at speed over 20 m, then slow down and stop it on the line with the sole of your foot.
first touch · 10 min · Just you
Wall passes across the body
Pass against a wall, take the rebound across your body to the other cone, and pass again. The best way to practise passing and first touch on your own.
Step 2 In a small game
dribbling · 15 min · Pairs, any number
1v1 to the gates
An attacker scores by dribbling through either of two gates. If the defender wins it, they attack the other two.
crossing · 15 min · 6 to 12, plus a goalkeeper
Low crosses and cut-backs
A wide player runs down the line and plays the ball low across the goal or back to the edge of the box. Two runners attack it: one to the near post, one to the penalty spot.
Step 3 In the match
- The overlapThe winger takes the ball inside; the full-back runs round the outside into the space the winger left.
- Get back into shapeWhen you lose the ball and cannot win it straight back, sprint back towards your own goal, inside the ball, so you are between it and the goal.
- Switch the playWhen the other team crowds one side, move the ball quickly to the other side, where there is space.
Skills to masterJockeying · inside-foot pass · Striking with the laces
What would you do?
Two quick ones for your position. Pick an answer, then see why.
Your match moments
Full moments where your position has a job: see it in a match, make the choice, then practise it.
- Beat the pressPush high and wide, so their winger has to choose between you and the centre-back.
- Make a chance from the wingOverlap or underlap to make it two against one.
- A winger runs at youClose quickly, then slow down as you arrive.
- Press togetherStep up behind your winger.
- Defend a cornerMark your runner, goal side.
- Take a quick throw-inPick it up quickly and throw to feet.
- Defend a throw-inGet tight, side-on, inside the receiver.
- Defend a free kickMark your runner, goal side.
- Defend a crossClose the crosser down; block the cross if you can.
- Go round themWhen trapped, play back inside.
- One against the keeperTuck in towards the far post.
- The keeper starts the counterSprint wide the moment the keeper catches it.
- Ball over the topTuck in towards the centre-backs when the ball is on the other side.
- An overlap against youStay with the ball, not the runner.
- They switch itWhen the switch is in the air, go.
- Defend the cut-backKeep chasing to block the pass.
- Five minutes left, one upPass forward and follow, so there is always a pass back.
- One down, time running outGet it into the box early and low.
- Our goal kickSplit wide, level with the edge of the box.
Take it into your next match
Look for
- Where is their winger right now?
- Is the ball on my side or the far side?
- Has our winger gone inside? Then the outside is mine.
Your challenge. In your next match, make two overlapping runs, and after each one, sprint back to your position.
In your head
Full-backs need patience. Many of your runs will not get the ball. Make them anyway: they create space for others.
For younger players
Young full-backs often stay too far back. Encourage them to join the attack, and to sprint back after.