ATTACKING FULL-BACKS

This activity is best using half a 1/2 of a full sized field (60 x 72) with the field broken into thirds and a square in the middle.  Assuming you play a 4-4-2 have 4 players in the back 1/3, 2 in the middle square and 2 in the attacking 1/3 for each team.  See diagram below for set up

The rules in this game are simple.  No one other than the 4 midfielders can go into the middle square.  If the X's have the ball, one of the backs for the X's may attack down the side and one of the backs for O's can defend down the side.  The diagram below shows how the players will shift in this situation

There will be a tendency for the other outside back to want to go forward also since there is so much space to attack on the opposite side but the first part of this activity works on always making sure there are numbers back on defense (since there are 2 attacking O's there have to be 3 defending X's).  If the outside back on the other side decides to attack as well, the X's are left with a 2 v 2 situation in their back 1/3 and that is not acceptable.

This simple game encourages the outside backs to get forward into the attack while always being aware of the numbers in back.

The next step of this would be to allow 2 of the X's to attack out of the back provided either one of the front O's defends or a central midfielder gets back and covers.  See diagram below for how this could work

There are numerous other things you could add in to this activity including outside midfielders so that when an outside back goes forward, he/she is creating a 2 v 1 situation on the outside.  You can also allow any player to switch with any other player so that a central midfielder could go forward and front player covers for him/her in the midfield.  These types of games are a great way to work on attacking, defending and team shape.