Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): UoN Session 13/10/2026

Passing circuit 12

Adapt to Need:

• 4 x 3-minute blocks with 60 seconds’ rest between
• 8
• 30 x 25 yards/Cones, 2 mannequins, balls

• This is a technical passing exercise with two different sequences, both related to creating overloads and combination play.

• Sequence 1: For the first sequence, the player on Cone A passes to the player on Cone B, who sets it back to the player at Cone A. This player then passes it wide to the player who has moved off Cone C. Players should rotate after each repetition, moving to the next cone in alphabet order: Cone A, Cone B, Cone C, Cone D, Cone B, Cone E, Cone A.

• Two balls should be going at the same time, with a second player at Cone D playing into a second player at Cone B to start in the opposite direction. This brings in the player at Cone E.

• The exercise can be done in one or two touches. The importance is on quality of pass and timing of movement, so take as many touches as the play requires.

• Sequence 2: Here, the player on Cone A passes to the player on Cone C, who then sets to the player on Cone B. The player at Cone B then passes to the player at Cone A, who offers support before playing a through ball in behind the mannequin towards the player at Cone C, who is running in behind. They then play through to one of the players at Cone D.
• As in the previous sequence, a second ball is played from the opposite side and incorporates the player at Cone E. Also as before, the players should rotate after each repetition, moving to the next cone in alphabet order: Cone A, Cone B, Cone C, Cone D, Cone B, Cone E, Cone A.

Coaching Points

• Pass quality: Demand crisp passes with the appropriate speed to help facilitate the next pass for a teammate. It is important to maintain a good rhythm to the exercise, so players should play off one touch where possible.
• Offering support: When offering support, receivers should initiate movement in the opposite direction of where they would like to receive the pass. This movement is especially important in live game situations, to create both time and space in which to receive. When moving to offer support underneath a teammate to receive a set, it is important to keep good distance (5-8 yards) away from the teammate setting the ball to not attach a defender to the ball-carrier. Changing pace to lose a marker and then readjusting the feet and slowing down before receiving is important to facilitating clean technical actions with the ball.
• Wall-passes: When executing the wall pass, it is important that both players remain visually connected. As the player at Cone C receives the ball, they should look to take a touch towards the mannequin to ‘engage’ it, while the player at Cone B moves to offer support. The player at Cone C should then look to pass to their teammate’s forward foot to facilitate the wall pass. Once the pass is played, they should quickly change pace to accelerate beyond the mannequin. That pass must be played towards the space that the player at Cone B is running into, so that they can receive in stride and keep playing forward.
• Third-man combination: When executing the third-man combination to receive in behind the mannequin, all three players must remain visually connected and maintain good distances that give them space to execute the move. The player at Cone C should look to run in behind the mannequin when the player at Cone A is about to play the pass in behind, to arrive in the space behind the mannequin with good timing and speed.

#CV_Sessions #Passing #Receiving #Technical

8v8 Attack v defence

Adapt to Need: 

• 3 x 5-minute blocks
• 16 plus 1 goalkeeper
• 50 x 70 yards/Balls, flat markers, 1 full-size goal

• This is a position-specific, building-play practice played on three-quarters of a pitch.

• The pitch is split into five vertical lanes. Lines are marked out in line with the width of the 18-yard box and the six-yard box.

• Two mini-goals are placed on the halfway line in channel three. The corners of the pitch are zoned off, as shown in the animation.

• The in-possession team – white in the animation – is made up of two full-backs, three midfielders, two wingers and one striker. The out-of-possession team (orange) is made up of four defenders and four midfielders.

• The ball starts with a server (the coach) playing the ball into a white midfielder. This team attempts to play and score in the opponents’ goal. They should try to ensure they only ever have one player in each of Lanes 1, 2, 4 and 5, to encourage rotations out wide.
• If the oranges manage to win possession, they attempt to counter-attack quickly and score in the mini-goals.

• The coach can change the shape of the defending team to five defenders and three midfielders.

• They can also remove the five lanes to give the attacking team more freedom in open play.

Coaching Points

• Runs in behind (third man runs): Players should be encouraged to make runs in behind in this practice. When the ball is played out wide, other players should be reading the play and starting to make runs in behind the opposition back line.
• Winger rolling inside: Wingers should be encouraged to roll inside – from Lanes 1 and 5 to lanes 2 and 4 – when there is space to do so. The timing of this movement is very important. Rolling inside when the ball looks like it is about to be switched, the full-back should move into Lanes 1 or 5 to overlap and provide the team’s width. This should create a 2v1 situation out wide. If the number 10 is playing in the half-space (Lane 2 or Lane 4), there will be no space for the winger to roll inside and they should hold the team’s width.
• Support & security: The in-possession team should always be reminded to maintain security behind the ball. Players should be aware of who the deepest player is and when they are going to make a forward run. If they do run forward, another player must replace them to provide security behind the ball. The player who offers this security is also vital in providing an option to circulate possession if the wide areas become too congested.
• Penetrate or circulate: Once the ball has been played wide, one of the main decisions players will be faced with is whether to attempt to penetrate and move the ball into an area to create a chance, or whether to circulate possession. Players should show patience in order to find the right moment to speed their play up and attempt to break the opposition’s back line. If the opposition is defending one side of the pitch effectively, the ball should be switched quickly to attempt to overload the other side of the pitch.

#Buildup_Play #Combination_Play #CV_Sessions