Tactics / Build-up

Width and depth

When your team has the ball, spread out. Wide players stretch the pitch across, a striker and a deep midfielder stretch it from front to back.

In possessionFrom 5v5Match moment: Go round themMatch moment: Three against two on the breakMatch moment: Five minutes left, one upMatch moment: Our kick-off

TOO TIGHTOUR PITCH NOWGK345268101179GK
  • Us
  • Them
  • Pass
  • Run
  • Dribble

Why it works

Defenders can't cover a big area. The more you stretch them, the bigger the gaps between them, and the more time your players have on the ball.

What players do

  • Wide players: touchline to touchline, so you can see the whole pitch.
  • One player always high and one always deep, so there is a pass forward and a pass back.
  • Get into positions where you can see the ball and the goal.

Common mistakes

  • Everyone runs towards the ball, so the team is one tight bunch.
  • Wide players drifting inside, where the defenders already are.
  • Nobody staying deep, so there is no safe pass back.

With young players

Young players bunch around the ball. Use a rule: one player in each half of the pitch at all times, or a "stay wide" zone down each side.

Drawn on a 105 × 68 m pitch, showing the part where it happens. Orange attacks left to right and the other team is in blue; numbers are the usual shirt numbers for each position.

Put it into your own team's plan in the team builder, and see what it asks of each player.

Next: Switch the play

What it asks of each player

The same idea, from every line of the team. Set it up for your own team in the team builder.

  • GK
    Goalkeeper
    • Be the deepest player, a safe pass back.
    • Stand where both centre-backs can see you and pass back.
    • Call "time" when a defender has space to turn.

    Position guide: Goalkeeper

  • DEF
    Defenders
    • Split wide and drop off to make the pitch long.
    • Full-backs: get your heels on the touchline when we have it.
    • Centre-backs: stand far enough apart that one pass cannot reach both of you.

    Position guide: Centre-back · Full-back

  • MID
    Midfielders
    • One stays deep, one goes high; never both level.
    • The deep one stays behind the ball and faces forward.
    • The high one stands in a gap between two of their players, not in front of one.

    Position guide: Holding midfielder · Central midfielder · Attacking midfielder

  • ATT
    Forwards
    • Wingers on the touchlines, striker on the last defender.
    • Winger: if you can touch the sideline, you are wide enough.
    • Striker: stand on the last defender so the team has length.

    Position guide: Winger · Striker

Practices that train it

Start with the first, and build up to the game.