Passing Between the Lines | Cleaning Up Your Build-Up

Overview

• Runs with 9 players and takes almost no time to set up
• Uses mannequins (cones), so you can run it even with small numbers
• Perfect when you want players thinking about the “space” between the DF and MF lines, and between the MF and FW lines
• Lets you rep out the exact build-up shapes that show up in real games

Objectives

• Players get the idea of “between the lines” and learn to spot passing lanes
• The receiver builds the read for “where can I actually get the ball”
• Players pick up concrete movements to break a defensive line
• Sharpens speed and consistency of decisions when there’s pressure on

Setup

Use mannequins (cones) to mark out the DF and MF lines, then work on the basic movement of feeding the ball into the gap between them.

１）Split the field into three vertical channels and set up the defensive DF and MF lines with mannequins

２）Start the ball from the attacking DF and play it into the space between the DF and MF lines

３）The player receiving checks their body shape and reads where the next pass goes

４）Add defensive pressure step by step and push the decisions to come faster

５）Work left, right, and diagonal patterns so players build up a bank of passing lanes to choose from