When coaching, we are often tempted into the “Soccer Drills” syndrome. Some aspects of the game encourage the use of line-ups to get the organization right. We’ve all done it, but …… Long Line-ups are Boring!

A practice I have used regularly over the past 20 years is one I “stole” from Coach John McKenzie, a very effective coach on the North Shore of Vancouver, which I called Mack I (Mack II is the same practice, but with two touches). It is a great way to teach the Throw-in and Shooting (and the “First Touch” to control the ball in Mack II).
But as you see in the graphic…

The two lines of 2 players is almost the maximum. It says in the “Organization” section of our Coaching 6, 7 & 8’s manual that “if you have an assistant or co-coach have the practice take place at both ends of the field.”

Otherwise, we will have something akin to the cartoon of the line-up where …. Long Lines Lack Luster!