54: Grow Coach Newsletter
Football Coaches: Develop your Coaching Craft.
Welcome from JustCoachMD. We are happy to have you on board and look forward to providing you with helpful content.
Here is What to Expect:
Coaching Craft: Running Beyond Opponents.
Full 60-Minute Practice: 3 x practices to work on running beyond the back line.
Coach Project: Encouraging forward running.
“Football is a game of space and time. It’s not just about where you run, but when you run and what space you create for others.” – Johan Cruyff
Movement and Runs Off the Ball
Creating Scoring Chances Through Intelligent Runs
When you move off the ball, you dictate the game. The art of breaking through a defence isn’t just skill—it’s about timing, space, and deception.”
Imagine a player gliding past defenders, unseen, and suddenly appearing in the perfect spot to score. Football's most underrated yet transformative aspects are the movement and runs off the ball. So, how can you help your players master this essential skill?
What Does It Mean to Make Effective Off-the-Ball Runs?
Runs off the ball are purposeful movements to create space, stretch defences, and disrupt opponents’ organisation. Whether it’s a blindside run to exploit the defender’s lack of vision, an outside-to-inside dart to penetrate the box, or a third-player run to catch defenders off guard, these movements require timing, intelligence, and execution.
Key Coaching Points for Off-the-Ball Runs
Scanning: Reading the Field
Encourage players to scan the field for gaps constantly, defenders’ body shapes, and moments when the opponent is out of balance.
Use situational practices where players must scan, decide, and execute a run based on the defenders’ positioning.
Timing: When to Move
A great run isn’t just about speed—it’s about making the move at the right moment. Late or early runs can disrupt the attack.
Use game-specific practices to rehearse runs in sync with teammates’ passes, ensuring players understand the timing of their movements.
Deception: Disguising Intentions
Encourage players to use feints, double movements, or pauses to unsettle defenders before making their run.
Incorporate 1v1 practices where players mislead and shake off defenders before accelerating into space.
Angles and Body Position
Runs off the shoulder, blindside runs, and diagonal movements are all about the angle of approach. Teach players to adjust their body position to stay hidden or ready to receive the ball.
Use mannequins or defenders in training to simulate game scenarios where players can practice different types of runs.
Communication and Connection
Runs are only effective if teammates recognise and act on them. Train players to use verbal and non-verbal cues to signal their intentions.
In small-sided games, reward teams for successfully combining runs and passes to create scoring opportunities.
Types of Off-the-Ball Runs
Blindside Runs
Exploit the defender’s blind spot by moving where they can’t see. This requires clever positioning and perfect timing.
Key Focus: Attack the space behind defenders when they’re fixated on the ball or the passer.
Runs Off the Shoulder
Position on the shoulder of the last defender to stay ready for a through ball or lofted pass. This run combines pace and positioning.
Key Focus: Stay just onside and accelerate into space at the right moment.
Outside-to-Inside Runs
Starting wide and cutting in can create dangerous angles, confuse defenders, and open up space centrally.
Key Focus: Coordinate with wide players or playmakers to exploit gaps in the defensive line.
Third-Player Runs
The third player joins the attack after the first and second players combine. This can catch defenders off guard.
Key Focus: Timing is everything. After the initial movement disrupts the defensive shape, the third player must accelerate into space.
“To beat the defender, you have to think faster than them. Movement is a mental battle as much as a physical one.” - Pep Guardiola
Tactical Considerations for Runs
Stretching the Defensive Line
Use off-the-ball runs to force defenders to move out of position, creating gaps for teammates to exploit.
Training Idea: Empahasise maximising width and depth in game-based elements to create gaps to penetrate.
Combination Play to Unlock Defenses
Combine runs with short passes, give-and-goes, or overlaps to keep defenders guessing.
Training Idea: Use 3v2 attacking drills to practice quick combinations paired with penetrating runs.
Breaking the Last Line
Teach players to recognise when to stay on the last line of defence and when to drop deep or pull wide to create space.
Training Idea: Include practices where players must stay just onside and time their runs behind a high defensive line.
Coaches Key Questions
Challenge Players’ Decisions
How can you time your run to exploit gaps in the defensive line?
What body position can you use to stay hidden from the defender?
How can your movement off the ball create space for a teammate?
When should you prioritise a blindside run over a direct one?
What signals can you give to communicate your run to a teammate?
How can you adjust your run if the ball carrier is under pressure?
By challenging your players to think critically about their movement, you’ll help them make smarter decisions on the pitch and create more scoring opportunities for your team.
Final Thoughts:
Movement off the ball is more than just running—it’s about intelligence, timing, and collaboration. When players understand how to create space and exploit defensive weaknesses, they elevate the team’s ability to score.
As a coach, your role is to provide opportunities for players to explore, experiment, and refine their runs in different scenarios. Encourage creativity and reward players for their effort off the ball, even if the run doesn’t lead to an immediate goal.
Empower your players to take risks, embrace the process, and understand that every great run starts with a player’s ability to see it ahead of time. Remember: A smart run isn’t just a movement—it’s about timing, tempo and exploiting space.
Full Practice: Running Beyond
4v4 +3 | Running Beyond | Possession Practice
⚽️ Created On: @SSPlanner
Aim:
Work on through balls and timing of runs.
Set-Up:
Set up a 46 by 36 pitch space. Split the pitch in half and add 4-yard end zones at each end. Place a pair of mini-goals at each end of the pitch.
👕 Teams: ⚫️s vs 🔴s plus 🟡s support the team with the ball.
How to Play:
One team is nominated as the possession team (⚫️s) and the other team is the defending team (🔴s). The 🟡s help the team with the ball.
The game starts in one half of the field.
The possession team (⚫️s) score each time they connect three passes in a half then slide in a runner into the empty half of the field.
The defending team (🔴s) has to earn the right to become the possession team. They must win the ball in the half they are in and score in the mini-goals in that half. Roles are then reversed and the game continues.
The defending team cannot enter the empty half until the ball has been played into it.
The 🟡s can be slid into the other half and always play for the team with the ball.
🚧 Constraints:
🏆Reward: Win back the ball and score in one of the mini goals to become the possession team.
👨🏫 Review: Speed and accuracy of the pass and the timing of the receiver run
🚫 Restriction: A passing limit to slide in a runner. If the possession team hits the 10-pass limit, the ball is turned over to the defending team.
Half Pitch Practice | Runs Beyond the Backline
⚽️ Created On: @SSPlanner
Aim:
Practice taking scoring opportunities when through on goal.
Set-Up:
Pitch Size: Set up the playing area as shown. Orange shaded area approx 40 by 30-yard space.
The slide-in zone is approximately 30-40 yards toward the larger goal, but the corners of the playing area are funnelled toward the edge of the box.
👕 Teams: ⚫️s vs 🔴s with 🟡s acting as support and 🟢 (GKs).
How to Play:
The ⚫️s start as the attacking team. The 🔴s start as the defending team. The aim for the ⚫️s is to slide in a runner beyond the orange zone towards the larger goal.
The practice always starts with a 🟡 who serves to the attacking team.
Once they achieve this 2 attackers (⚫️s) can break out to goal and play against two recovering defenders (🔴s).
If the (🔴s) win the ball in the orange zone they score in the orange mini-goals and transition to become the attacking team.
If the (🔴s) win the ball in the breakout zone, they score on the red mini goals placed on the corners of the breakout zone. If they score, they become the attacking team.
When a breakout occurs another ball is served into the orange-shaded zone where the attacking team aims to keep the ball with the 🟡s until another breakout can occur.
🚧 Constraints:
🏆Reward: Become the attacking team if you win back the ball and score in any mini goal.
👨🏫 Review: The different types of runs to receive the ball (blindside, OUT to IN)
🚫 Restriction: Time limit on breakouts (6 seconds to finish) it the defending team becomes the attacking one and is served the next ball.
6v6 | Funnelled Pitch | Break Out Game
⚽️ Created On: @SSPlanner
Aim:
Spotting opportunities to use through balls in a conditioned game.
Set-Up:
On a 60 by 40 pitch with the sidelines funnelled toward goal.
👕 Teams: ⚫️s vs 🔴s plus 🟢s (GKs).
How to Play:
Each Team gets 5 attacks. The ball always starts with their 🟢 (GK).
The pitch is split into thirds. In the first third, the attacking team drops in from the middle third unopposed to receive the ball off their 🟢 (GK). The attacker then travels with the ball into the middle third.
In the middle third teams launch an attack by sliding in a runner beyond the offside line (Central Orange Line) for a 1v1 to goal.
One defender recovers vs one attacker and the 🟢 GK. While the 1v1 breakout attack is happening another ball can be started from the attacking team GK to continue the practice.
If the 🔴 defender wins the ball in their defensive third they dribble into funnelled corners of the middle third, then rejoin the middle third. (Could also add mini goals in the corners or have a coach stand to act as a target to hit if possession is won).
Flip the roles after 5 footballs so both teams get to attack and defend
🚧 Constraints:
🏆Reward: A bonus ball to attack with for 2 consecutive back-to-front goals.
👨🏫 Review: Quality and weight of pass are important for the through ball ⚽️ and switches of play. The timing of the run is vital for the ⚫️s MF runner 🏃♂️.
🚫 Restriction: Time limit on the breakout attack, 5 seconds to get the shot away.
“Timing is everything in football. A perfectly timed run is just as important as the pass.”– Carlo Ancelotti
Coach Project: Observation Task
Objective
Observe and analyse the effectiveness of off-the-ball runs beyond the opponent’s defensive line by evaluating player timing, positioning, decision-making, and execution during the attacking phases.
Setup
Use a training activity focused on breaking defensive lines, such as small-sided games, positional play, or attacking patterns. Assign one coach to observe the moments when players attempt to make off-the-ball runs beyond the defensive line and the outcomes of their actions.
Key Observations
Positioning
Are players positioning themselves on the defender’s shoulder to stay ready for a run in behind?
Do players adjust their body shape to remain onside while anticipating the pass?
Timing
Are runs made early enough to exploit gaps but not so early that they result in offside?
Are players timing their movements to match the ball carrier’s ability to deliver the pass?
Execution
Are players making the right type of run (e.g., blindside, diagonal, or straight) based on the defensive setup?
Are players using deception (e.g., feints or double movements) to unbalance defenders before their run?
Scanning
Are players scanning the field before making their runs to identify space or weak areas in the defence?
Are ball carriers scanning for runners and adjusting their body position to deliver the pass?
Follow-Up Play
After a run, are players prepared to take their next action (e.g., controlling the ball, shooting, or squaring to a teammate)?
Are teammates supporting the runner by offering passing options or running into the box?
Lessons to Highlight Post-Observation
Decision-Making vs. Execution
Break down whether issues stem from poor execution (e.g., mistimed runs or offside) or poor decision-making (e.g., running into a crowded area).
Triggers for Runs
Emphasise the key triggers for making a run beyond the defence, such as:
The ball carrier spotting a gap between defenders.
A defender stepping out of position to press the ball.
A teammate dragging defenders out of shape to create space.
Risk vs. Reward
Discuss balancing aggression and patience:
When should players take the risk of making a high-speed run?
When should they stay patient, maintaining shape to wait for a better opportunity?
“Good players see space; great players create it. Runs off the ball confuse defenders and open the game.”– Arsène Wenger
I send this email weekly. If you would like to receive it, why not join a community of like-minded people who love the game of football?
Enjoyed reading this post, feel free to share it with your friends! Or click the button below so more people can discover us.