How to Pass the Ball Out from the Back Good teams can pass the ball out from the back in a structured controlled manner. Tony Carr,
Academy Director at West Ham United, explains how to coach your players to do it.
Academy Director at West Ham United, explains how to coach your players to do it.
Key Coaching Tip
Give your players the confidence and encouragement to do it!
Passing out from the back of defence, whether a back 3 or back 4 requires, first, that the
players are comfortable in possession of the ball, and second that the coach gives the
players the confidence and encouragement to do it.
Give your players the confidence and encouragement to do it!
Passing out from the back of defence, whether a back 3 or back 4 requires, first, that the
players are comfortable in possession of the ball, and second that the coach gives the
players the confidence and encouragement to do it.
In Diagram 1 below, set up with 3 defenders in each half versus 2 forwards. Before the ball
can be played into the attacking half, all 3 defenders have to touch the ball. This makes
them involved in the first phase of the attacking movement and hopefully the attackers will
receive a more controlled pass.
1. Defender 1 passes to defender 2, 2 to 3 and 3 passes forward to 4.
2. 4 and 5 try to score. When they have either lost the ball or shot at goal repeat the
process.
Pass out from the back to create 3v3
If we advance Diagram 1, after all the defenders touch the ball allow 1 dark shirted
defender or 1 white shirted defender to break into the attacking half making 3v3.
Get your midfielders to accept the pass
Finally, as Diagram 2 shows, add a midfield section allowing a midfield player or defender
to break into the attacking third of the pitch making 3v3.
YOU’RE NOW PASSING YOUR WAY TO THE OPPOSITION GOAL!
