Pass through the lines
Teams try to play from their defensive zone, through a midfield zone, to a target in the final zone. Teaches patience, angles and when to play the forward pass.
Your assistant coach: turn this drill into a full session, plan the weeks around it and tell me how it went.
Set-up
- Three zones; a target player on each end line.
- Teams spread across the zones, e.g. 2 + 2 per team plus targets.
Equipment: Cones, bibs, balls
How it works
- Ball starts with a target and must go through each zone in order.
- Score by reaching the opposite target.
- Players stay in their zones; defenders press in theirs.
Coaching points
- Receive half-turned so you can see forward.
- If the forward pass isn't on, recycle and go again.
- Move to make a passing line through the zone.
Add this drill to a session plan โ
Make it easier
- Add a neutral in midfield
Make it harder
- Two-touch
- Midfield player can drop into the back zone to receive
AttackersDefendersKeeper / neutral- - โ Passโ Runใฐโ Dribble
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See the drill โSwitching play: 4v4 + 2 across three zones
A possession game where a point is scored for moving the ball from one outside zone to the other. Players learn to draw the opponent to one side and switch.
See the drill โThird-man passing pattern (Y shape)
A Y-shaped passing pattern where the first pass goes in, comes back to a different player, then goes forward again. The basic movement behind most combination play.
See the drill โReceiving on the half-turn
Players in the middle receive from one side and turn to play to the other in one movement, with their body already open. The receiving skill every midfielder needs.
See the drill โScanning game: colour cones
Players pass in a square while the coach holds up a colour. The receiver must have looked first to pass to the matching cone gate. Builds the habit of checking your shoulder.
See the drill โ