Indoor Training: Passing and Getting Free

Pitch: Mark out a large rectangle with 4 tall cones; the corners form the positions A and B on one side and C and D on the other. Between A and B and between C and D, two cones approximately 4 metres apart form a passing gate.

Equipment: 4 tall cones, 4 cones, 2 balls as well as several spare balls at the side.

Players: The players are assigned to the four positions and spread out as evenly as possible. The players at the positions A and C have one ball each.

• The players at the positions A and C start at the same time and play a ground pass through the passing gate to the player opposite, B and D respectively.
• The players opposite control the ball and play it back through the passing gate to the starting position.
• Then it is the turn of the next players.
• After the pass the players each change position diagonally: A joins D, B joins C, C joins B and D joins A.
• On the diagonal run the players can complete running technique drills.
• The format is intended as a continuous passing drill; on each side the ball travels back and forth between the passing gates.
• To begin with it is played with two touches.

Variations:

• Allow one-touch ground passing only.
• Play both touches with the same foot, for example stopping the ball with the right sole and passing with the right foot.
• Play with two touches in strict alternation, so the first touch with the right foot and the pass with the left foot.
• Higher level of difficulty: the ball is played back and forth in the air only, with two touches, for example control with the thigh and a pass with the inside of the instep.

Note: Drill idea by Max Schönijahn.