Tactics / Out of possession
Move as a block
Without the ball, the team keeps its shape and slides across the pitch together, like one unit, staying close to the ball.
Why it works
Short distances between players mean no gaps to pass through. The far side is left empty, because the ball can't get there quickly.
What players do
- About 10 to 15 m between the back line and the midfield line.
- Everyone slides towards the ball when it moves.
- If the ball goes backwards, the whole block steps up together.
With young players
From 11v11. With younger players, focus on getting goal-side of the ball first.
Drawn on a 105 × 68 m pitch. Orange attacks left to right; numbers are the usual shirt numbers for each position.