Week 46: One-Twos & Third-Man Combinations

The first session of this week will focus above all on the one-two. It is used in 3 drills. In the warm-up, the basic tips for the one-two are coached and applied in a continuous passing drill. In Exercise 3, the one-two is then rehearsed in a match-realistic situation, and at the end the players can create their own one-twos in a free 3 vs 0 small-sided game.

For the player on the ball, 2 tips are essential in order to use the one-two successfully. First of all, the opponent must be sufficiently engaged. In other words, the player must dribble close enough to that opponent. If the player on the ball is a winger who wants to open up the space in behind, the winger should drive particularly straight at the opponent (see Exercise 3).

As a coach, you should pay attention to match-realistic execution even without real opponents. If, for example, a dummy is to be played around with a one-two, the player on the ball could play the first pass while still 5 m away from the dummy, but this would never work with a “real” opponent. The passer would have to make up far too many metres on their opponent.

But even when the opponent has been sufficiently engaged, the defender and the passer have a similar distance to cover to get the 2nd pass. If the defender attacks very aggressively, it is of course no problem to get to the ball first, as the defender would first have to change direction. But even if the defender drops back, the mental head start is enough. Provided that the opponent is sufficiently engaged and an explosive change of pace is made after the 1st pass.

To integrate one-twos into the team's own game, it helps if the players learn “pass & move”. This basic principle means that the players immediately make another movement to get free after a pass. Ideally in combination with a change of pace. If the players get used to “pass & move”, it will certainly also lead to one or two successful one-twos.

Moreover, the habit of making another movement to get free after a pass has further positive effects on the team's own game.

Even if the passer does not receive the ball again, their sudden movement to get free ties up opponents and thus creates space for the receiver.

In addition, “pass & move” is needed for other forms of combination play. For example, when the full-back passes to the winger and immediately makes an overlapping run around them. Or after a pass into the next line, in order to then move up for a lay-off.

After the one-two was practised in detail in the last 2 sessions, it is now time for playing through a third player. To be able to use this form of combination play, a third team-mate is needed.

The first steps when playing through a third player are identical to the overlapping run. At the start, a player, often a winger, receives a pass and dribbles at an opponent. The winger on the ball is then overlapped by a team-mate. For example by a holding midfielder or full-back who previously passed the ball to the winger.

Once the winger has sufficiently engaged the opponent and the overlapping player is roughly level with the ball, the pass comes. However, the overlapping player is not played in directly but via a “third player”. Let us assume here, for example, a striker or number ten who comes towards the winger from the centre. After the winger has played the ball into the number ten or striker, that player passes the ball on in behind to the overlapping player.

As with the “classic” overlapping run, the opponent must be sufficiently engaged and the overlapping player must sprint round the back of the player on the ball at top speed. When playing the pass to the “third player”, make sure that it is played onto the foot furthest from the opponent, as that player will almost certainly have an opponent behind them. The pass to the “third player” should also not come too late, as otherwise there is a risk that the overlapping player runs offside.