Play the way your facing – Follow Us
Play the way your facing is a message every grassroots coach tells there players many many times during training, only for when it comes to match day when they receive the ball they will get their heads down and turn into trouble.
This drill will teach them the value of that simple move.
By coming to receive the ball and then play the way your facing by laying it straight back to the passer, it enables the wingers to spin in behind their marker and opens up the opportunity for a free cross.
Getting them to do this repeatedly will encourage the players to get their heads up when the receive the ball, and knowing they will get it back will further enhance this.
Playing backwards is not a bad thing, and will encourage your team to keep possession for longer.
Play the way your Facing – How it works
To start off, set up two poles / mannequins out wide about 5 foot from the touchline ( These can be replaced with actual defenders later in the drill )
Each winger starts off behind the marker.
Player in the CM position has the ball. They will call a wingers name, play them the ball and then follow the pass
The winger will come goal side to receive the pass, and play a first time pass back then spin round the outside of the marker and down the line.
CM will collect return pass and play into the channel for the winger to collect.
Winger takes one touch, and then plays a cross in.
Both the CM and other winger can join the attack.
2 Centre Forwards and 2 Centre Defenders will make runs into the box to try and score / clear the danger.
Play the way your Facing – Scale it up
This drill can be scaled up in a number of ways
Replace the mannequins with actual defenders
Add a Defensive Central midfielder to track the runs.
What to Expect
Early on the focus is just about the initial phase of the 3 passes and getting the winger away.
After that let it flow for a while.
When the drill has been repeated a few times, then you can give the forwards more instruction on what runs to make and when to make them.
Want more Drills ?
Looking for more Transition Drills ?
Check these out.
| 1. | Linking Play |
| 2. | Pass, Switch, Cross & Finish |
| 3. | Doing the Hard Yards |
| 4. | One Touch Finish |
| 5. | Keeping the Ball – Risk v Retain |
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