This activity is a great way to introduce young players to rhythm passing – that brand of passing in sequence that possession teams do so well.
This activity is a great way to introduce young players to rhythm passing – that brand of passing in sequence that possession teams do so well. The base exercise teaches passing combinations with movement and it becomes more complex with the addition of another attacker and finally a defender.
Use a 20x15 yard grid with seven players. You need balls, bibs and cones.
Player 1 passes to 2. Player 3 checks and receives a pass from 2 before passing to player 4. Player 3 then sprints toward either of the corners at the end opposite to where he passed, with the player in that corner becoming the new central player. The sequence then goes in the other direction.
You can progress the session by adding one-touch play in the corners; you can also add a second central player (see diagram 2); add a defender in the middle (see diagram 3), with both central attackers required to touch the ball before playing to a corner. You could also add a second central defender.
Hallmarks of success include playing with the proper foot; using nicely weighted passes; sharp receiving; early movement off of the ball; crisp turns from the central player; and constant communication.
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