Third-Man Runs & 1v1 | From a Three-Pass Combo to a Goal

Overview

• U12–U18 development ages
• Players who already have basic passing and can read a 1v1
• Players ready to learn to combine with more than one teammate

Objectives

• Get players reading the run that gets the third man on the ball
• Have them attack quickly off the third-man pass
• Sharpen the drive to score in a 1v1 — and the drive to win the ball back on defense
• Speed up decision-making in tight spaces

Setup

Seven players, a 40 x 50 field: they play a 1v1 that comes off a third-man pass.

１）Split the field into two zones. The top is the passing zone (3 players), the bottom is the 1v1 zone.

２）The three up top (A, B, C) knock it around in a triangle.

３）C plays it down to player D in the bottom zone (that’s the third-man play).

４）D takes it and goes 1v1 with E. As the attacker, D goes at the central goal and tries to score.

５）If E wins the ball, E dribbles through the center gate (the marked area in the middle) to score.

６）After a goal, reset the ball and start the next rep. Rotate the roles and go again.