From 4v3 to 5v4
Blue builds out 4v3 from the back, and a completed pass into the center zone unlocks a 5v4 attack on Red's goal.
Building a solid attack and moving the ball forward is how a team gets out of its own half and into the opponent's — and this game rewards exactly that pass.
Starting at Core — your team is set to mixed.
Up to 30 min · 9 Blue + 7 Red across three zones (built for 16)
- Ages 9–11
- 9 Blue + 7 Red across three zones (built for 16)
- Up to 30 min
- Cones, pinnies in two colors, balls, two goals
Grab Cones, pinnies in two colors, a supply of balls, and a goal for each end.
Build Mark out a 55-by-50-yard field, split it into three zones, and set a goal at each end.
Place Blue's nine across the zones in a 1-3-2-3, Red's seven opposite, and the ball with Blue's keeper — every restart comes through the keeper.
Three zones on a 55-by-50-yard field with a goal at each end, Blue's 1-3-2-3 zone assignments, and where Red's seven start.
- 1
Organize the players
Set the field with its three zones, split teams of nine and seven into two colors, and put Blue into its 1-3-2-3 zone assignments with Red opposite.
“Blues, nine of you — one-three-two-three, your keeper starts with the ball. Reds, seven — win it and score on their goal.”
- 2
Show the jobs
Walk one rep — Blue's keeper restarts, Blue attacks 4v3 in the first zone, and a completed pass into the center zone sends the attack forward 5v4 on Red's goal. Red scores on Blue's goal if they win it.
“Use space, be open. Pass or dribble it forward.”
- 3
Play
Run it with two breaks, the source's own way — at the first break, ask the guided question and let them keep playing to discover the answer; at the second, they share answers with you and each other.
“On distributions, where should the outside defenders show for the ball? Keep playing — show me.”
Look for Outside defenders showing for the ball just outside the penalty box sidelines, close to the endline — the field made as big as possible.
- 4
Switch and repeat
Restart with Blue's keeper after every goal or interruption and keep the buildup reps coming. Switch variants when the level is wrong — that is the design, not a failure.
“Back to the keeper — build it again.”
Too hard? Start the buildup 4v2 — the third defender stays on the center zone boundary and intercepts passes. Too easy? Narrow the field to 36 yards. Spend the thirty minutes either way.
Go deeper · 3 notes
Why it works
The model answers walk your players through the whole buildup in their own language — show for the ball just outside the penalty box sidelines, close to the endline, to make the field as big as possible; take the ball forward and look for receivers; and when the way forward closes, stay calm, cut away, and pass to the keeper to switch the point of attack.
What they learn
Spreading out, creating passing options, and choosing when to pass or dribble forward — buildup as a chain of decisions.
What's next
9v7 to the End Zones — the same buildup carried into the opponent's half.
Where does this come from?
US Soccer — Play/Practice/Play session plans for 9v9, U11–U12.
A governing body published this — the same organization that writes the rules your league plays by.