One Touch Passing

Set Up:

The players start at the cones, passing and following in an hourglass pattern. They are limited to one touch. The direction of the drill changes every five minutes.

Coaching Points:

1.  Be on your toes to receive the pass.

2.  Be verbal and make eye contact.

3.  Punch the center of the ball, not the bottom half.

Progressions:

1.  Add another ball.

2.  Play in any direction.

Set Up:

Each team has two targets on each end line and three players in the center. The players in the center must make three one touch passes before passing to a target. The targets do not defend each other. After receiving the pass, the target switches into the center. The first team to team to hit all four targets wins.

Coaching Points:

1.  Play in the direction you're facing.

2.  Talk to your teammate before he receives.

3.  See the next pass and make your run early.

Progressions:

1.  Play 2v2 in a zone on the end lines.

Set Up:

Each team has two targets on each end line and three players in the center. Teams in the center play 3v3, looking to score by passing to a target after making five consecutive passes. Targets can be used to keep possession, but cannot defend each other. Target players switch in after scoring. Games are played to five.

Coaching Points:

1.  Use passing patterns to move defenders away from the targets.

2.  When a passing lane closes down, fake it and turn away.

3.  Look to create a 3v2 right after scoring.

Progressions:

1.  Two touch limit

2.  Play 2v2 in a zone on the end lines.

Set Up:

The teams play 3v3 plus one in the central zone and 2v2 in both of the end zones. To score, the attackers must pass the ball to a teammate in either one of the two end zones. When an attacker receives the pass in, he dribbles out of the zone and switches with the attacker who made the pass in. Play continues from there in the central zone. After 5-10 minutes, the players rotate into a new zone.

Coaching Points:

1.  Width and Depth – Expand the space, and then make runs into the space you have created.

2.  Speed of Play – Play one and two touch soccer and force the defenders to chase.

3.  Anticipation –  End zone attackers must make their checking runs and blind side runs early.

Progressions/Regressions:

Progression 1 – Limit the neutral attacker to one touch.

Set Up:

Play 9 v 9 with GKs on a full field, using the full width. Use the 18 yard line as the end lines for the field. Both teams play a 3-3-3, or whatever the coach decides to play. This is free play with no stoppages for coaching. Balls put out of play are re-started by the GKs.