Field setup: Full field (120 x 75 yards) with four flags on each touchline dividing the field into three zones, defensive third, midfield third and attacking or final third. Twenty scrimmage vests are needed with different colors for each team. Balls in each goal.

5 v. 2 (4 + GK v. 2 strikers)
One of the two strikers starts play with long shot on goal which the keeper will field and play to one of the outside backs. The closest central back offers support for the ball as the outside back dribbles forward and tries to get to the middle third. If closed by one of the two defenders, the player plays the ball to his closest supporting defender who tries to prepare the ball and send to the opposite outside back. The key here is the technical ability to deliver a long diagonal ball to the opposite outside back moving forward.

7 v. 3 (6 + GK v. 2 strikers and a central midfielder)
Two goals were established for the defensive team to score on at midfield. Add two central midfield target players (No. 6 and No. 8) for the defensive team to play to at midfield.

Have ball played to central back, who dribbles forward and creates 2 v. 1 with team’s outside back. In turn seek to play the ball forward to one of the central midfielders who lays the ball off for the score. If the outside back gets shut down, play the ball back to supporting central back who tries to play long diagonal ball over the top to his opposite outside back.

8 v. 3 (7 + GK v. 2 strikers and 1 central midfielder)
A new central defensive midfielder (No. 6) joins with four backs and two midfielders as the team seeks to work the ball to play to the central midfielder in midfield area. No. 6 can run wide to receive ball from outside back or receive a ball from a central back and play to an attacking outside back (Diagram 4).

l1 v. 6 (2 strikers and 4 midfielders)
Now add outside midfielders to each team and a second central midfielder to the defending team with the objective of the attacking team to move the ball to the attacking third of the field.

If there is no pressure on the outside back following distribution from the keeper, then the supporting midfielder (No. 7) takes his defender away and the outside back attacks with the dribble and can play to checking the central striker who turns or walls ball off to attacking outside midfielder (Diagram 5).

11 v. 8 — Play from the midfield to the attacking third of the field
Add two central marking backs to the defending team. Emphasis on combining play with the tightly-marked No. 6 in midfield and having that player turn the ball and switch play either to his opposite midfielder or opposite outside back. The ballside midfielder clears space by taking his marker away. Keep compactness between lines at all times. Also, once the ball enters the central midfield area, the attacking team must remain composed, slow play down, make simple passes and not give the ball away.

Hyndman noted that it is vital to build 2 v. 1 combination play between the attacking team’s outside back and outside midfielder. If the midfielder is tightly-marked, play the ball back and run to space behind the defender (Diagram 7-A). If tightly-marked, the outside midfielder can take the defender inside and open the space for outside back to run into and play a 1-2 with that player (Diagram 7-B).

11 v. 9 — Moving from the mid-third to the final third
A goalkeeper is added to the defending team. The emphasis should be on playing balls to a midfielder (No. 8) so that individual can: 1) play square or through balls to the outside midfielder closest to the ball, or 2) support the ball and switch play behind the defense to the opposite outside midfielder. Watch for extra touches and play the ball simply (play the way you are facing). See Diagram 8.

11 v. 9 — Play from midfield to attacking third of field.
Two central defenders are added to the defending team. Keeping the ballside midfielder wide, outside back plays ball to central striker and while ball is on the way but before the ball reaches the striker’s feet, the outside midfielder runs to space to be played to (action - reaction). See Diagram 9.

A coordinated checking to the ball by the outside midfielder and the attacking midfielder as well as lateral runs by the two strikers can open up the long diagonal ball to opposite outside midfielder. See Diagram 10.

11 v. 11
Add two outside backs to the defending team. The attacking outside midfielder (No. 11) needs to attack with two strikers when ball is played wide. Generally player (No. 6) offers a target for pull backs on the cross and also looks for knockdowns in box for scoring opportunities.

The central supporting striker (No. 9) does not want to take his defender into the space of the outside midfielder. Open it up, if anything (see Diagram 11).

11 v. 11
Both teams play 4-4-2 with the triangles playing a direct style of play and while the attacking team plays an indirect style (looking for 2 v.1s). Any time ball is played past the attacking central midfielder (No. 6), that player must seek to run to support the central strikers. Restrict both teams to five passes before they can shoot on goal.

Editor’s note: Schellas Hyndman is the men’s soccer coach at Southern Methodist University and a senior member of the NSCAA National Academy coaching staff.