Screen the Cutback

Teach the back four and holding midfielder to recover into the box with the correct body shape and, critically, to screen the cutback lane to the penalty spot and edge of the box when the ball reaches the byline.

Goal and GK at the top of a 50x45 area. Defending back four start on the edge of the box with a holding midfielder ten yards in front. Attacking team of five: two wide players, a striker, an attacking midfielder and a deep playmaker who starts every rep with the ball. Spare balls beside the coach to feed the next rep instantly.

1. The playmaker releases the winger into the wide channel — the trigger for the defending unit to drop and recover.
2. As the winger drives to the byline, the near fullback shows him wide while the centre-backs sink onto the six-yard line, front-screening the near and far post.
3. The holding midfielder sprints his recovery run to the penalty spot and takes the cutback lane — he defends the space, not a man.
4. The attack must try to score from a cutback or pull-back; the defending unit scores a point for a block, interception or shot forced over.
5. Play 6 reps to one side, 6 to the other, then swap a defender into the attack to keep legs fresh.
6. Finish with free play from the playmaker: he can switch sides, so the unit must recover and screen on either flank.

• Holding mid: sprint to the penalty spot first, then face the ball.
• Centre-backs: front-foot on the six — ready to attack the low cross.
• Fullback: show the winger to the byline, never let him chop inside.
• Open body shape — see the ball and the runner arriving behind you.

• The holding midfielder ball-watches and jogs back behind the ball line — demand a full sprint to the penalty spot before the winger reaches the byline.
• Centre-backs drop onto the goal-line and play everyone onside with no spring to the cutback — hold the six-yard line with front-foot posture.
• Defenders mark men instead of the cutback lane and the pull-back arrives unopposed — screen the space between penalty spot and the 'D' first.

• Add a second attacking wave: a late runner from deep arrives at the edge of the box.
• Let the attack choose cutback, low cross or recycle to the top of the box — defenders must read it.
• Make it fully live from the playmaker's first touch with offsides.

• Walk the recovery shapes without opposition, freezing at the byline moment.
• Limit the attack to cutbacks only so defenders know what is coming.
• Remove the attacking midfielder so there is one fewer body to track.

• Attacking goals from a cutback count double — biasing the picture you want to defend.
• The holding midfielder may not start his recovery until the pass into the winger is struck.