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🎙️ Episode 118 — Deep Dive #1: Building Out from the Defensive Third (with Paddy King)

Brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly (@SoccerCoachWeek)

In the first episode of our brand-new Deep Dive series, we’re joined by Paddy King to explore one of the game’s most important tactical elements — building out from the defensive third.

Paddy breaks down what effective build-out play looks like and shares insight into the key principles behind it — from creating angles and supporting runs to recognising when and how to progress the ball through the thirds.

Using a short clip from a recent Barcelona match, Paddy highlights how top teams manage this phase of play, before explaining how grassroots and academy coaches can translate those same concepts into practical, engaging training sessions.

In this episode:

How Barcelona’s structure and spacing create options during build-out
The decision-making process for centre-backs, midfielders, and the goalkeeper
Coaching cues and constraints-led practices to develop confident build-out play
Ideas for small-sided games that replicate real match scenarios

📺 Watch this Deep Dive episode on YouTube:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@thesoccercoachingpodcast9489

💬 Got feedback or a topic you’d like us to explore?
We’d love to hear from you — email us at thesoccercoachingpodcast@gmail.com

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This episode was brought to you in association with our friends at Soccer Coach Weekly.

Established since 2006, Soccer Coach Weekly is a leading source of inspiration and advice for all grassroots coaches. Join thousands of youth soccer coaches, just like you, saving time and effort in their goal of having the most effective, enjoyable and successful coaching journey for them and their players. – https://www.soccercoachweekly.net/

Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoyed the episode!

Audrey Carville

The AI-powered Podcast Player