Passing
Technical Passing Drill: Two 1-2s and a Finish
Play quick 1-2s and receive on the half turn: step aside to open up, take the first touch across the line and forwards, then finish the move with a weighted through ball and a one-touch finish.
Duration
15 min
Total drill time
Players
8
Recommended
Pitch
Full Pitch
Setup space
Level
Intermediate
Skill required
Intensity
Medium
Physical demand
Age band
U9-U10
Any format
Setup & instructions
Put two gates of poles 2.4 metres wide up the middle: the first 8 metres from the start line, the second 15 metres. Put a pole wide on each side at the top, 20 metres up and 10 metres apart. Put a mini goal on the start line 8 metres either side of the middle, facing up the drill, and a pile of balls beside the start. One player waits just in front of each gate, one by each end pole, and the rest line up at the start. The front of the line plays into the first gate player and gets it back first time. The first gate player steps aside, level with his gate outside its pole, gets it again and turns with his first touch across the gate line. He plays a 1-2 with the second gate player, who steps aside the other way, level with his gate, gets it again and turns with it. He passes it round the outside of the end pole on the far side. That player side steps out to meet it, touches it back inside the pole and plays it through between the end poles for the player at the other pole, who sprints onto it, takes one touch and finishes in the mini goal on his side. The next rep goes the other way. Rotate: the starter goes to the first gate, the first gate to the second, the second gate to the shooter's pole, and the shooter to the back of the line. The assister stays at his pole and finishes the next rep.
Setup time: 5 min
Tactical breakdown
The drill is a chain of the moves a midfielder makes to get the ball forwards: play a 1-2, move off the ball to open up, receive on the half turn and play forwards. Every player goes through every station, so each one starts the move, turns in both gates, gives the assist and finishes.
The gate players set it up. They wait just in front of their gate, close enough to the ball to play the 1-2 first time. Then they step aside, level with the gate and outside its pole. That step does two things: it gets them out of the line of the gate, and it opens their body so they can see the ball and the next pass at the same time. Their first touch goes across the gate line and forwards, so they are already facing the next target when they play it. A touch back towards the ball, or a square body, adds a touch and kills the tempo.
The switch goes to the far end pole round the outside, away from the middle. The end player takes a short side step out to meet it, then touches it back inside the pole. That touch is what opens the through ball: from inside the pole he can play it between the end poles into the shooter's path down the other side.
The shooter times his run off that touch inside, not off the pass. He sprints onto the through ball, takes one touch towards goal and finishes in the mini goal. The next rep goes the other way, so the assister stays where he is and becomes the shooter: the drill works both feet and both sides without stopping.
How to run this drill
- Set the gates and poles. Two gates of poles 2.4 m wide at 8 m and 15 m up the middle, an end pole each side at 20 m, 10 m apart, two mini goals on the start line 8 m either side, a ball pile at the start.
- 1-2 with the first gate. The front of the line plays into the first gate player, who is just in front of his gate, and gets it back first time.
- Step aside and turn. The first gate player steps aside, level with his gate, gets it again and turns with his first touch across the gate line.
- 1-2 with the second gate. He plays a 1-2 with the second gate player, who steps aside the other way, gets it again and turns with it.
- Switch round the outside. The second gate player passes it round the outside of the far end pole. That player side steps out, touches it back inside and plays it through between the end poles.
- Touch and finish. The player at the other end pole sprints onto it, takes one touch and finishes in the mini goal on his side.
- Rotate and switch sides. Starter to the first gate, first gate to the second, second gate to the shooter's pole, shooter to the back of the line. The next rep goes the other way, so the assister finishes it.
Coaching focus
FROM SESSION PLANCoaching points
- Every 1-2 first time: pass and move to get it back, do not wait for it
- Gate players: wait just in front of the gate, then step aside to level with it so you can see both the ball and where it goes next
- Receive on the half turn: open your body and take the first touch across the gate line and forwards, never back towards the ball
- Pass into the gate player's front foot and the step-aside player's back foot, so they can turn
- Pass to the end pole round the outside, away from the middle, so the receiver can take it on the move
- End player: a short side step out, then the touch back inside sets up the through ball
- Through ball between the poles into the shooter's path, not to his feet; shooter, one touch towards goal and finish
Common mistakes
- Standing in the gate instead of just in front of it, so the step aside is too long
- Stepping aside but staying square, so the first touch goes backwards
- Turning before the ball arrives and losing it under the foot
- Passing to the end player between the poles, which kills the move inside
- Through ball to the shooter's feet, so he has to stop
- Shooter setting off before the touch back inside, then waiting for the ball
Progressions & regressions
VARIATIONSProgressions
- Every pass first time except the turns: the turn is the only touch
- The shooter finishes first time off the through ball
- A passive defender at the second gate, so the step aside has to lose him
- Race it: time each rep, then try to beat it
Regressions
- Allow a touch before every pass
- Shorten the distances to 6 m and 12 m for the gates
- Leave the shooter a touch and a carry before the finish
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