BOX MIDFIELD
BUILD UP
Tactical Analysis
Break Lines vs High
Press Zonal Defending
Build up play
patterns from
Guardiola,
Alonso, and
Arteta’s teams
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©SOCCERTUTOR.COM BEAT THE PRESS WITH A BOX MIDFIELD
Box Midfield Build Up: Break Lines vs High Press Zonal Defending
Box Midfield Build Up Play Principles
and Objectives
Build Up Play from the Back Objectives of Build Up Play
Build up play refers to progressing the ball Main Objective: Break defensive lines,
from the defensive third against organised advance play, and create goal scoring
pressing. This book focuses on build up opportunities.
starting from the goalkeeper, typically
To achieve this, teams must:
against a high defensive block.
y Beat the Press: Find free players or use
Different types of defending tactics
link players to progress play through or
influence how teams build up play, as do
around pressing lines.
defensive formations which shift based
on pressing intensity, requiring teams to y Exploit Space: Use intelligent positioning
adapt accordingly. and quick ball movement to take
advantage of defensive gaps.
Please see the earlier section in the book
for full details (Build Up Play Factors: y Ensure Defensive Stability: Maintain
Essential Skills and Opposition Pressing balance at the back to best prepare for
Tactics). potential counter attacks.
y Transition Efficiently: Once past the first
Principles of Build Up Play or second defensive lines, capitalise on
Effective build up play relies on key attacking opportunities.
principles to ensure controlled progression
and attacking fluidity: Note: By applying these principles, teams
using a box midfield can successfully play
y Numerical Superiority: Creating through high pressing opponents, ensuring
overloads in key areas to maintain control and structured progression.
possession and break through pressing.
y Effective Positioning: Players must
position themselves between opposition
lines to create passing lanes.
y Decision Making and Awareness:
Recognising space, anticipating
defensive movements, and executing
quick passing decisions.
y Ball Circulation and Patience: Moving
the ball efficiently to wait for the right
moment to penetrate defensive lines.
y Support and Movement: Off-the-ball
adjustments to maintain passing options
and avoid being isolated.
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©SOCCERTUTOR.COM BEAT THE PRESS WITH A BOX MIDFIELD
Box Midfield Build Up: Break Lines vs High Press Zonal Defending
Options for Breaking the First and
Second Pressing Lines (3 at Back)
1. Effective Positioning with 3-at-the-Back Box Midfield
With the 3-at-the-back box midfield, 4 of The longer and more precise the pass, the
the 6 spaces between the opposition’s lines more defensive lines are bypassed, which
are occupied. neutralises more opponents. Unlike with
2-at-the-back, the 3-at-the-back shape has
See page 30 for full details of how this GK between the 2 red forwards (No.9 and
build up shape is formed from the 4-2-3-1 No.10), allowing him to move forward with
formation (it can also be from 3-4-2-1). the ball and reduce the passing distance
to the target players. This increases the
To break as many lines as possible, the
likelihood of an accurate forward pass,
goalkeeper (GK) must play accurate passes,
making it easier to progress play while
which relies on effective positioning from
maintaining control.
the 4 midfielders.
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©SOCCERTUTOR.COM BEAT THE PRESS WITH A BOX MIDFIELD
Box Midfield Build Up: Break Lines vs High Press Zonal Defending
Drawing Press with a Pass and Exploit
Gaps Created (3 at Back)
1. Draw Pressure from Midfielder to Create Space Behind Second
Pressing Line for Right Attacking Midfielder to Receive
With 3-at-the-back, the goalkeeper (GK) GK plays a through pass to No.8. As red No.8
is positioned between 2 pressing forwards moves to press, space opens up behind for
and can play through the first line easier. As blue No.10 to receive behind.
the potential receiver usually has their back
Option 1 (Yellow Arrows): No.8 passes
to goal, the through pass typically draws
back to GK, then to centre back (No.4), who
pressure. This can be on purpose and is
finds No.10 before the opposition shifts.
guided with these principles:
A. Quick read of the situation and where Option 2 (Blue Arrows): A quicker but
the available space is. riskier option is for No.8 to pass to No.6,
who then finds No.10.
B. Move the ball into this space as quickly
as possible.
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©SOCCERTUTOR.COM BEAT THE PRESS WITH A BOX MIDFIELD
BOX MIDFIELD
SESSION
Training Session 1 (4 Practices)
Break Lines vs High
Press Zonal Defending
Based on
Guardiola,
Alonso, and
Arteta build up
patterns
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©SOCCERTUTOR.COM BEAT THE PRESS WITH A BOX MIDFIELD
Box Midfield Session 1: Break Lines vs High Press Zonal Defending
TRAINING SESSION (4 PRACTICES)
1. Passing Decisions to Break Lines Depending on
Opposition Pressing
Variation 1: Midfield Decision Making Based on Opponent’s Pressing
Practice Description (Variation 1) y AM turns and plays a one-two with F
around the mannequin before passing to
y Objective: Decision making for whether
the other group.
to turn or pass back (to exploit space).
y Right Side: If not pressed, LDM turns.
y The mannequins mark the first and third
The ball is either played to AM directly
pressing lines and the red player is in the
or via the link player F (blue arrows). F
second line.
then runs in between the mannequins to
y Left Side: GK passes to LDM, who receive AM’s through pass and pass to
must assess the red player’s reaction. If the other group.
pressed, LDM passes to RDM and the
y Player Rotations: GK -> LDM -> RDM ->
ball is quickly played to AM behind the
AM -> F -> GK (Other Group).
red player.
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©SOCCERTUTOR.COM BEAT THE PRESS WITH A BOX MIDFIELD
Box Midfield Session 1: Break Lines vs High Press Zonal Defending
PROGRESSION
2. Moving the Ball Beyond the Lines Based on Defender
Reactions 7 (+GK) v 2 Functional Practice
Variation 1: Receive + Turn When Not Pressed (3-at-Back-Box Midfield)
Practice Description (Variation 1) y If the nearest red midfielder (No.6) holds
their position (Variation 1), blue No.6
y The blues have the goalkeeper, 2 centre
receives on the half-turn and passes
backs, the box midfield, and the forward.
forward.
y The reds have 2 central midfielders and
y Nearby teammates quickly offer passing
the mannequins form the rest of the
options to progress the attack, ideally
defensive formation.
forming a triangle or diamond shape.
y GK starts and circulates the ball with
y In this example, the forward (No.9)
the centre backs (No.5 and No.4) before
plays a give-and-go with the attacking
passing to a defensive midfielder (No.6 in
midfielder (No.10) to receive in behind
diagram) behind the first pressing line,
the defensive line and score.
who must scan before receiving.
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©SOCCERTUTOR.COM BEAT THE PRESS WITH A BOX MIDFIELD
Box Midfield Session 1: Break Lines vs High Press Zonal Defending
Variation 2: Exploit Space Behind Press (3-at-Back-Box Midfield)
Practice Description (Variation 2) y No.10 plays in behind for the forward
(No.9) to score.
y In Variation 2, the red midfielder presses
blue No.6 as soon as the goalkeeper plays y Note: Adapt for a 2-at-the-back box
the pass. This means turning is not a midfield by positioning the GK wider
good option as in Variation 1. and No.5 more central.
y No.6 must make a quick decision whether
Coaching Points
to pass to the other defensive midfielder
(No.8), back to the GK, or possibly back 1. Recognise pressing early and decide
to a centre back. quickly whether to turn or pass.
y Quick ball circulation is used to exploit 2. Communicate clearly using prompts like
the space behind red No.6 and move the “turn” or “pass.”
ball to the blue attacking midfielder 3. Move the ball quickly to exploit space
(No.10) behind the second pressing line. behind the press.
Option 1 (yellow arrows) uses No.8 as the
4. Use sharp combinations to break
link player. Option 2 uses No.4 as the link
through pressing lines.
player.
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©SOCCERTUTOR.COM BEAT THE PRESS WITH A BOX MIDFIELD
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