Bobby Muuss: Building Out of the Back - 'The Wake Way'

Bobby Muuss,
Wake Forest University Head Men's Soccer Coach;
2019 NCAA College Cup Final Four;
2016 NCAA College Cup Runner-Up;
3x ACC Regular Season Champions (2016, 2017, 2024);
3x ACC Tournament Champions (2016, 2017, 2024);
4x ACC Coach of the Year (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018);
5x ACC Atlantic Division Titles;
6x NCAA Elite Eight appearances;
University of Denver Head Coach from 2007 to 2014;
2013 Summit League Coach of the Year;
2x MPSF Coach of the Year;
Wake Forest University Assistant Coach from 2001 to 2006;
University of Connecticut Assistant Coach from 1997 to 2000;
2000 NCAA National Champions;
3x Big East Champions;
played college soccer at Southern Connecticut State University

Bobby Muuss' Wake Forest men's soccer team has developed into a national powerhouse in his time on the sideline playing a modern, possession-based style of soccer. In this video, Coach Muuss elaborates on an element at the core of Wake Forest soccer - playing out of the back - and demonstrates 10 drills he uses regularly in his practices to prepare his team to successfully build out of the back when it counts. Each drill can be adapted to fit most age groups and/or skill levels as well as both three and four-back formations, and the tempo and intensity your players will face will help develop their technical skills and decision-making abilities with the ultimate goal of creating chances in the offensive third of the field.

Why Out of the Back?

Why take the risk to play out of the back, possibly losing the ball to an opponent in a dangerous position? For Coach Muuss, building properly out of the back, whether on a goal kick or a throw in, will gives attackers more space to penetrate. Playing out of the back pulls opponents out of their shape, and by taking advantage of opponents who press late or in an unorganized way, Muuss' team creates numerical advantages farther up the field.

Coach Muuss admittedly has the luxury of recruiting talented players that fit his possession-oriented style of play, but how can club and high school coaches, who don't have the same control over the players on their teams, build a roster capable of playing out of the back against a high press? The key, according to Muuss, is challenging your players with fast-paced, high-pressure situations each practice to improve their technical skills and, more importantly, their decision-making. As the coach, you can manipulate the parameters of a drill - the size of the playing field, playing against greater numbers, or not being able to play the ball back to a keeper - to increase the pressure placed on your defenders. By playing with greater urgency, your players will make better, more timely decisions and develop the fundamentals necessary to build from the back successfully.

7v7 Build vs the Press

In the featured 7v7 Build vs the Press drill, the back four and three central midfielders must play out from a goal kick. Without wingers to serve as an outlet up the line, the midfielders must help in the build. Coach Muuss describes potential coaching points and modifications that can be made to the drill to better suit your players' skill level, before showing video of his Wake Forest team in the drill. To be successful in the drill, his players must be confident of their first touch and mindful of their body shape when receiving the ball, look for opportunities to break lines with a pass or on the dribble, and make quick decisions. The defenders must be ready at all times to win the ball back on a turnover, and Muuss will often play a counter ball to the pressing team to test his defense's ability to get back when the ball is lost.

Coach Muuss has created an exciting, possession-based style of play at Wake Forest where building from the back is part of the team identity. You, too, can train your players to feel comfortable playing out of the back against a high press, but it is essential they are repeatedly challenged by being placed in situations that require them to quickly make good decisions. This video is a must-see for any coach looking to help their players confidently play against pressure in their defending third of the field.

56 minutes. 2021.