Build-up Passing Circuit: Centre-back, Midfielder, Full-back, Striker
Unopposed passing circuit that rehearses building up through one channel: centre-back dribble, midfielder's support, full-back's run and pass to the striker.
- Age
- U11–Senior
- Players
- 5–16
- Duration
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Area
- 68 × 55 m
- Type
- Technical
- Approach
- Analytical
- Format
- Circuit
- Objectives
- Technical: Passing, Receiving / first touch
- Tactical: Build-up play
- Concepts worked on
Training diagram
Legend
- Attacker
- Pass
- Run without ball
- Dribble
- Ball
- Cone
- Goal
Unopposed passing circuit that reproduces building up through one channel. The centre-back dribbles out wide to about the height of the penalty spot and passes to the midfielder, who moves out from the centre and offers outside the box. The midfielder takes a directional first touch towards the full-back on that side and passes to them. The full-back, who receives level with the box, dribbles a long way down the wing and plays into the striker, who comes short to support. The striker takes the ball and dribbles quickly to the centre-back's position to start again.
Objective
Automate building up from the centre-back: dribble, the midfielder's support, a directional first touch outwards, the full-back's dribble and a pass to the striker coming short.
Organisation
- Own half, with goal and penalty box. A cone at each player's starting position: centre-back (inside the box, wide), midfielder (central, outside the box), full-back (on the touchline, level with the box) and striker (near the halfway line).
- One player on each cone and two on the centre-back's (C), who starts with the ball.
- With 10 or more players, set the circuit up on both sides at once (right and left) to work with both feet.
How it works
- The centre-back (C) dribbles out wide to roughly the height of the penalty spot.
- The midfielder (M) starts centrally and moves out to their side, outside the centre-back and outside the box, to receive the pass. They do not come from the full-back's wing.
- The midfielder takes a directional first touch towards the full-back on their side and passes to them.
- The full-back (L) receives level with the box and dribbles a long way down the wing while the striker (D) comes short to support.
- The full-back passes to the striker.
- The striker takes the ball and dribbles quickly to the centre-back's position to start again.
- Each player moves to the position they passed to (C → M → L → D → C).
Coaching points
- Centre-back: dribble with the head up and a firm pass to the midfielder's stronger foot.
- Midfielder: move from inside to outside at the right moment, without entering the full-back's lane, side-on to see the full-back.
- Midfielder's first touch goes outwards, to play with the second.
- Full-back: long forward dribble, then a ground pass to the striker's feet.
- Striker: come short facing the play, receive and dribble away quickly.
- Communication: ask for the ball with voice and gesture.
Progressions
- Put two balls into the circuit at once so players must play faster and stay alert.
Variations
- The centre-back plays straight to the full-back (instead of the midfielder), who then plays with the striker.
- Run it on both sides at once (right and left) so everyone works with both feet.
Key principles
- Offer an angle to receive.
- First touch towards the next pass.
- Follow your pass.
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