Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Triangle Passing and Receiving

Unopposed - Progression 1 (5 mins)

Organization:

triangle set up with cones, cones about 15yds apart, 6 or 7 players (works ideally with 7)

Instructions:

Player from first cone passes to player from second cone after they open up away from the cone (next players in line wait on the inside of the cone nearest to the center of the triangle),

Player from second cone takes 1st touch around their cone (and other player at the cone), then plays pass to player at third cone,

follow your pass and join the line at the next cone

continuous rotation

Coaching Points:

head up to observe position of teammate to pass to

movement to check into space away from the cone

weight and accuracty of pass

direction of first touch

angle of support

Progressions:

allow second player at cone to apply light pressure to the receiving player

Unopposed - Progression 3 (5 mins)

Organization:

same as previous

Instructions:

Player 1 plays a pass into the feet of Player 2 - who is now posting up the next player in line to receive the ball at the cone with a player in his back.

Player 2 plays a doulbe pass with player 1 while shielding the ball from the defender

After playing the ball back to Player 1, Player 2 opens out into space to receive the ball back again.

Player 2 now takes first touch to get around the cone, and plays a pass to Player 3 to start the sequence again at the next cone.

Coaching Points:

same as previous

receive first pass with a sideways body position (receive with outside of nearest foot)

timing of run

spacing between teammates when passing

Disguise the direction of the pass

Progressions:

Fully Opposed (15 mins)

Organization:

6 players set up as shown

Instructions:

2v2 in central area

team in possession attempts to play the ball wide to one of the targets and receive back to score

players ARE allowed to score multiple points in a row at the same target

defenders attempt to win the ball, and immediately start to combine with wide targets to score points

Coaching Points:

Movement away from the ball to receive

check shoulder to see defender before receiving

technique to receive based on how tight the pressure is

willingness to combine with teammates with short passes

draw defenders in then play away from area of high pressure

Progressions: