6v5 after a Pass behind the Defenders

The coach plays a ball in behind the defensive line and it's a race — attackers try to run it down and dribble into the end zone; defenders sprint to win it back and score.

Chase down the ball in the half where the opponent builds and win it back — you're close to their goal, so the transition to scoring is short.

Ages 9–1110 defenders + 5 attackers + 1 goalkeeper (built for 16)Up to 30 minCones, pinnies in two colors, balls, one standard goal

Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive

Grab: Cones, pinnies in two colors, a supply of balls, and a standard goal.
Build: Mark out a field with the standard goal and a 14-yard-deep end zone.
Place: Ten defenders in one color and five attackers in the other, each in their starting positions; the goalkeeper in the goal; you behind the defenders' endline with the balls.

One thing to remember: Pressure, cover, balance as one unit — staying compact, reading the signals to press, and stealing the ball.

How it runs — the whole game in one sentence

The coach plays a ball in from behind the defenders' endline — attackers race to secure it and dribble into the end zone; defenders sprint to prevent the goal, win the ball, and score.

1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Set the field, split ten defenders and five attackers into their starting positions, and put the goalkeeper in the goal. Take the balls behind the defenders' endline yourself.
Coach says
Blues, starting spots — you're winning this ball back. Reds, you're chasing my pass down. Keeper, in goal.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Walk one rep — you play the ball in from behind the endline, the attackers run it down and try to dribble into the end zone, the defenders sprint after it to win it back and score.
Coach says
Stay compact, pressure, attack the ball. When my pass goes in, it's a race.
3Play▾
Coach does
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.
Coach says
What are your signals to start pressing? Keep playing — show me.
Look for: The line sprinting after the ball the moment it goes behind them, then moving forward as a unit with pressure on the ball carrier the whole way.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
Reset both teams to their starting positions and play the next ball in. Switch variants when the level is wrong — that is the design, not a failure.
Coach says
Back to your spots — next ball is coming in!

If it's not working

Too hard? Same game on a field only 45 yards wide. Too easy? Give the attackers another way out of pressure — they can also score by passing to the coach in the end zone. Spend the thirty minutes either way.

Want to go deeper? Optional — not needed to run the game.

Why are we doing this?

Pressure, cover, balance is the source's own key-words phrase for this goal, and the model answers put the press in kids' language — the signals to start pressing are missed passes, square passes, and passes that go behind their receivers. This game drills the moment after the signal, the race for the ball after a pass goes behind the defensive line: sprint after the ball, move forward as a unit, keep pressure on the ball carrier at all times.

What are they learning?

Pressure, cover, balance as one unit — staying compact, reading the signals to press, and stealing the ball.

How can I change it?

Easier: The same 6v5, except the field is only 45 yards wide.

Harder: The same 6v5, except the attackers can also score by passing to the coach in the end zone.

Next: 8v8 on Three Goals — the same session goal, now pressing with the whole team on the field.