Tactical Play: Playing On Different Horizontal Lines And

Vertical Channels Warm Up

Written by paul bright

 15 Minutes

 Tactical Play - Att

 attacking

 Age 13+

Equipment List
 8 Players
 2 Footballs
 9 Cones
 30x20 Area
This warm up practice introduces players to the technical requirements to play on different horizontal lines and
vertical channels in order to penetrate and advance forwards.
Key Coaching Points
Angles and distances - Players should maintain diagonal angles and good distances keeping the structure to a
game realistic shape to receive on the back foot and move forward.

Timing of movements - To receive the ball players should recognize cues of when to move off the cone such
as passes, body shape of passer and anticipating the ball coming to the receiver.

Quality of the pass - Players have to execute the correct weight, speed, disguise and accuracy to keep the
sequence at a good pace.

Set Up
2 x passing triangles, a 10m gap between the triangles, and 3 x mannequins dividing the triangles and
replicating opposition players in a game.

8-12 players positioned on the cones and minimum of 2 x players to always start where the ball starts. Player 1
passes across to player 2 then follows the pass. Player 2 plays to player 3 and follows the pass. Player 3
executes a penetrating pass through the mannequins to player 4 and follows the pass as the pattern is repeated.

Progression
Make it easier:

Start with the ball in the hands

Make it more challenging:

Challenge players individually

Encourage players to play in 2 touches

Add 2 x balls at the same time

Introduce 2 x Midfielders in the central areas who can move to combine with the player performing the
penetrating pass
 Tactical Play: Playing On Different Horizontal Lines And Vertical
Channels Rondo Skill Practice
 20 Minutes

 Tactical Play - Att

 attacking

 Ages 13-18

Equipment List
 12 Players
 1 Football
 12 Bibs
 9 Cones
 30x20 Area
Within this rondo practice we can develop the concepts of rotation in wide areas and movement in central
areas to promote relationships between players and play on different horizontal lines and vertical channels.
Key Coaching Points
Angles and distances - Players should maintain diagonal angles and good distances keeping the
structure between the Full Backs, Wide Attackers and Central Midfielders game realistic focusing on rotation
and connections between players.

Timing of movements - To receive the ball, players should recognize cues of when to move off the line to the
inside to penetrate or maintain possession.

Quality of the pass - Players have to execute the correct weight, speed, disguise and accuracy, using the 3
passing lines (in front of defense, around defense & through defense) to create opportunities to penetrate.

Set Up
4 rectangle areas (15x10). 4vs.4 + 4 with 4 x Attackers (Blue) set up with an attacker at each end of the
rectangle (Blue 5 and 9), and 2 x Attackers (Blue 6 and 8) in the central areas.

Blue 6 and 8 must occupy different rectangles and can rotate. 4 x Defenders (Red) in central areas and only 1 x
Defender allowed in a rectangular area at any one time, although they can rotate.

4 x Wide Players (Green 2, 3, 7 and 11) positioned on the outside of the area. Wide players can move along the
full length of their designated line and when Full Backs (Green 2 and 3) enter the line on areas 3 and 4, the
Wide Attackers (Green 7 and 11) can move inside into the rectangle areas.

Blue Team (Attackers): Maintain positions and possession of the ball with the emphasis on going forward from
Centre Back Blue 5 to Forward Blue 9, rotating through the middle and utilizing passing options of support
players.

Green Team (Wide Players): Create passing options in wide areas to penetrate and advance forwards. Use
rotation to create attacking overloads higher up the pitch, through overlapping and inverted runs.

Red Team (Defenders): If possession is won, play to Blue 5 as quickly as possible, replicates a counter attack
in a game, or maintain possession 4vs.2 in the central area.

Progression
Make it easier:

Start with the ball in the hands

Make it more challenging:

Challenge players individually

Encourage players to play in 1-2 touches

When the Attackers (Blues) and Wide Players (Greens) have success, add the condition that Defenders (Reds)
can track back to allow 2 x Defenders in areas 3 or 4 when the Wide Attackers (Green 7 and 11) move inside
 Tactical Play: Playing On Different Horizontal Lines And Vertical
Channels Skill Practice 2
 25 Minutes

 Passing

 attacking

 Age 13+

Equipment List
 20 Players
 1 Football
 20 Bibs
 12 Cones
 80x60 Area
This 'phase of play' skill practice provides game realistic situations for players to understand and develop their
ability to play on different horizontal lines and vertical channels to advance towards goal.
Key Coaching Points
Angles and distances - Players should maintain diagonal angles and good distances keeping the
structure between the Full Backs, Wide Attackers and Central Midfielders game realistic focusing on rotation
and connections between players.

Timing of movements - To receive the ball, players should recognize cues of when to move to the inside to
penetrate and work towards the goal.

Quality of the pass - Players have to execute the correct weight, speed, disguise and accuracy, using the 3
passing lines (in front of defense, around defense & through defense) to create opportunities to penetrate.

Set Up
Area two/thirds of a pitch (80x60) with goal at each end of the area. Pitch is also divided into 5 x vertical
channels to provide reference points for the players.

Attacking Team: 1-4-3-3 with specific challenges in possession. #2, #7 and #3, #11 aim to play in different
vertical channels in possession to provide width and angled passing opportunities. #6, 8 and 10 aim to play on
different horizontal lines to provide depth, length and passing options behind, around and ahead of the ball.
Create goal scoring chances by unbalancing the opposition.

Defending Team: 1-4-3-1 with the challenge to stay compact and make play predictable. If possession is
regained, play forwards quickly to create goal scoring opportunities.

Progression
Make it easier:

Start with the ball in the hands

Make it more challenging:

Challenge players individually

Encourage players to play in 1-2 touches

Introduce opposition Wide Forwards and make 11v11

 Tactical Play: Playing On Different Horizontal Lines And Vertical
Channels 11v11 Game
 25 Minutes

 Tactical Play - Att

 attacking

 Ages 13-18

Equipment List
 22 Players
 1 Football
 22 Bibs
 100x60 Area
11v11 Game with challenges to allow players to recognize when, where and why to play on different
horizontal lines and vertical channels in the game.
Key Coaching Points
Game realistic - Both teams should maintain a game realistic environment with good tempo and match
realistic decisions encouraging relationships between partnerships, units and the whole team.

Lines of attack - Players look for opportunities to play on different horizontal lines or vertical channels to
provide width, depth and length within the midfield and develop relationships between each other.

Appropriate passing - Attackers should use the three passing lines and understand when to play in front,
through, around, over or retain possession depending on the defense and their position.

Set Up
2 x teams of 11 (or equal teams dependent on number of players at practice). Match rules apply. Pitch divided
into 5 x vertical channels to act as a reference points for players.

Condition = In the attacking half, teams are not allowed to play a forwards pass in the same vertical channel.

Encourage players to develop relationships and take up positions on different horizontal lines and vertical
channels to offer, width, length and depth to the attack and unbalance the opposition defense.

Allow teams to play as coach observes.

Details
Make it more challenging:

Decrease size of playing area

Challenge players individually