Accurate long passes
Use this session to train your players to hit a team-mate with pinpoint accuracy. Good long passing from side to side or to an advancing player is important to the development of young players. MORE
Pass like you mean it
Passing to maintain possession is one thing; passing to hurt the opposition by moving them around and breaking through defensive lines is another and requires instilling a sense of purpose in players.
What this session is about
- Penetrative passing.
- Possession.
What to think about
- Good passing technique – correct pace, accuracy, disguise, etc.
- Pass early and quickly when possible. Be patient if necessary but play the “killer” pass when the chance comes.
- Use combinations – the wall pass (a one–two), overlaps, dummy runs etc. Look for spaces between opponents.
- Think about attacking principles – e.g. make use of the width of the pitch.
- Communicate – verbal, eye-contact, signalling, with trigger movement.
Set-up
| Warm up | Session | Developments | Game Situation | Warm Down |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 minutes | 10-15 minutes | 15-20 minutes | 10-15 minutes | 10 minutes |
What you get your players to do
Two teams of four and a 10-yard square. Play 4v1 keepball with the defender being replaced by a team mate every 30 seconds.
Defenders earn a point by knocking the ball out of the square while attackers earn a point for five successive passes. Switch after two minutes and the team with the most points wins.
- To progress, add a triangle of cones or corner flags in the middle of the playing area, each side measuring 1-2m across.
- Repeat the drill, but this time the attackers can also score a point by passing through the triangle to their teammates.
Play 4v1 keepball and replace the defender every 30 seconds. Play for two minutes.
Development
Three teams of two playing 2+2v2 in a 20-yard square. The two teams play keepball against the third team. Any team that loses possession to the defenders switches roles. Points are awarded for successfully defending the ball or being involved in an 10-pass successive sequence. When one player makes a pass that splits the defenders this is also worth an extra point.
Play for two minutes then work out the points before switching partners so they attack/defend with different players.
Play 2+2v2. Attackers score for every 10 successive passes while defenders score a point for disrupting an attack or getting the ball.
Game situation
Play 4v4 in a 30-yard square with a five-yard zone at each end. The attacking team is only allowed one attacker in the five-yard zone and then for a limited amount of time. The defending team cannot enter the five-yard zone it is defending. Teams score a point for passing to the team mate in the end zone.
Play 4v4 with the attackers looking to pass to a player who can only be in the five-yard zone for a limited amount of time.
