Create your own Session Planns with stunning 3D in minutes Hundreds of soccer sessions in a searchable database Compile ready-made drills into your own session in seconds Adapt ready-made drills to make a customised session in moments Post on your website, e-mail to friends, link to non-Members, view on your phone Sport Session Planner: for a low yearly subscription, click here to join!

Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Breaking The Lines

Profile Summary

Ryan Carr
Name: Ryan Carr
City: Glossodia
Country: Australia
Membership: Adult Member
Sport: Football/Soccer
Build 3D sessions in seconds
Access to 1000’s of sessions
Professionalise and modernise your coaching
Used by the world’s best coaches
US$
75
per year
Join today
Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Activation

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Activation
Save Image: Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Activation Create Video:

Activation (10 mins)

Activation (7 per Square)

Start with a 5-minute walkthrough and a 10-minute dynamic activation. Use pairs or small groups in a tight grid, with the receiving player scanning, checking shoulders, opening body shape, and playing forward on the next touch. This reflects line-breaking sessions that start with cognitive preparation and technical repetition before progressing to opposition.

Coaching points

  • Scan early and often.

  • Receive side-on.

  • First touch away from pressure.

  • Play with disguise and correct weight.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Rondo into isolations shoot

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Rondo into isolations shoot
Save Image: Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Rondo into isolations shoot Create Video:

Rondo into isolations shoot (15 mins)

4v2 Rondo transition (11 Players) 

  • Start with a high-tempo 4v2 rondo outside the box.

  • On the 5th pass, trigger a deep ball into the striker, who is pinned by a centre-back.

  • One player from the rondo immediately sprints to support the striker, creating a 2v1.

  • The attack then has 5 seconds to score.

Coaching points

  • Scan before receiving.

  • Use a fast pass speed to break the press.

  • Receive on the back foot so you can play forward instantly.

  • Stay active and on your toes to react to the trigger.



Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 6v6 + 2

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 6v6 + 2
Save Image: Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 6v6 + 2 Create Video:

6v6 + 2 (20 mins)

Positional passing to break lines

Set up a 25x20m area split into three horizontal zones. Play 5v4 or 6v5, with the possession team trying to find a player between the lines who can turn and connect forward; this mirrors elite possession games used to progress centrally through defensive lines.

Rules

  • Central player can only have 2 touches.

  • A point is scored for a pass into the middle zone and another point if that player turns and plays forward.

  • Defenders can press aggressively once the ball enters the central zone.

Coaching points

  • Create angles around the ball.

  • Move defenders before trying to split them.

  • The pass before the line-break matters most.

  • Support underneath and beyond the receiver.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Directional Transition

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Directional Transition
Save Image: Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Directional Transition Create Video:

Directional Transition (20 mins)

Directional transition game (16 players)

Set up a 40x30m area divided into a central "rondo" zone (15x30m) and two finishing zones at either end. It acts as a bridge between the technical work and the final game.

The drill flow

  • 4v4 in the central zone: Two teams maintain possession with the help of two neutral "pivot" players who move up and down the central corridor.

  • The trigger: Once the possession team completes 5 consecutive passes (or finds a pivot in an advanced position), they must immediately play a "line-breaking" pass into a forward target player in the finishing zone.

  • The transition: Upon playing that pass, two players from the rondo sprint into the finishing zone to support the target, creating a 3v2 or 3v1 overload against the defending team's defenders.

  • The finish: They have 5–8 seconds to finish. If they score, they keep possession. If the defenders win it, they try to counter-attack back into the central rondo.

Coaching points

  • Scanning: Check shoulders before the 5th pass so you know exactly where the target is.

  • Tempo: Move the ball at match speed in the rondo to force the defenders out of shape.

  • Sprint to support: The first player to support the target must sprint, not jog; the timing of this run defines the success of the 3v2.

  • Finish quickly: Don't over-play in the final zone—the defender will recover.


Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Three Team Game

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Three Team Game
Save Image: Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Three Team Game Create Video:

Three Team Game (20 mins)

  • The red and blue teams work together to keep the ball – they can only play along the ground and aren’t allowed to play lofted passes

  • Three players from the yellow team press the side with the ball, the remaining two yellow players slide and screen
  • One player from the opposite side can drop into the central area to receive the ball
  • Once a player receives in the central zone they must turn and play into their own colour before trying to play back into the other side

A five-yard channel is also marked out across the middle of the pitch. Two full size goals are at either end, with a goalkeeper at each.


Fifteen outfield players are to be used, split into three teams of five (reds, blues and yellows) – with each team spread across each of the three areas. The aim is for the red and blue teams – at either end – to work together to keep the ball. In this instance, the ball will start with the red players. They can only play the ball along the ground and aren’t allowed to play any lofted passes.


Three players from the yellow team in the middle five will attempt to press the side with the ball, with the remaining two yellow players sliding and screening. One player from the opposite (blue) side can drop into the central area to receive the ball. Once they receive the ball in this zone they must turn and play back into their own team (blues) before trying to play the ball back to the other side of the pitch (to the red team).


When the pressing team (yellows) win the ball, they look to score in the goal they are facing as quickly as they can

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Game

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Game
Save Image: Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Game Create Video:

Game

Build 3D sessions in seconds
Access to 1000’s of sessions
Professionalise and modernise your coaching
Used by the world’s best coaches
US$
75
per year
Join today

© Copyright 2026 Sport Session Planner Ltd.

Animation Controls (PCs, Macs, Laptops):

Play animation
Play step-by-step
Repeat (toggle)
Full Screen
Pause
Stop

Back/Forward: Drag timeline button