Passing to create

WHY USE IT

This simple passing practice starts to plant the idea of an up, back and through pattern to create goalscoring opportunities. It also gives forward players the opportunity to work on the timing of runs off the ball.

SET UP

Seven players are required for this practice, using half a pitch and a full-sized goal. Players set up depending on your team’s preferred formation. We have shown two centre-forwards and five midfielders - two sitting slightly deeper.

HOW TO PLAY

The pattern begins with one of the deeper central midfielders, who begins with the ball. The midfielder plays into the feet of a striker, who drops into space to receive. They then set the ball back to the other deeper-lying central midfielder, who plays into space out wide for the winger to run onto. Meanwhile, the two strikers, opposite winger and attacking midfielder begin making runs off the ball to attack the cross. The two strikers should look to cross over their runs. The winger crosses the ball into the box for the forwards to attack.

COACHING POINTS

Weight of pass; one-touch passing where possible; timing and shape of runs into box.