Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Third Man Runs

Third Man Run Passing Pattern (25 mins)

Organization:Two grids 20 x15, two players start on the two cones in the center, everyone else needs a ball behind one of the outside cones

Instructions: Two players in the middle communicate on who will go where. Ball is passed to the highest line, dropped to the player facing them, and then played long to the overlapping player. The two in the middle stay and work for two minutes until rotated out. Always retreat back to middle cones and communicate who will go where before every rep.

Coaching Points:

The player hitting the long ball: Attacking the ball and putting yourself in a good position to hit pass first time

Timing of runs, not standing there waiting for pass

Taking the speed off the ball with a set

Playing where you face

Communication of middle players to split lines of attack

Importance of separation of lines of attack and difficulties it produces for defenders

Constantly moving in the middle, movement imediately following pass

Checking hard off the cone to lose defender

Progressions/Regressions:

Scrimmage (30 mins)

Organization:

Instructions:

Coaching Points:

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