Getting the ball to the wing

This simple session works on moving the ball wide while maintaining space and time for the winger. It aims to promote speed and accuracy of passing while fixing the inside defenders.

Warm up time: 5-7
Session time: 8-10
Development time: 10-15
Game time: 10-15
Warm down time: 5-8

What to think about

Though simple in set-up and potential outcomes, actual passing and running at speed will be difficult to achieve under pressure. You need to adjust distances and timings to suit the skills of your players before they find success. Only then do you apply the pressure. This is a great session to return to later in the season to see if your team has progressed. Inside players should be encouraged to use pull-back passes (not necessarily flat passes) so there is enough space for the winger to receive the ball. Note: This is only a couple of passes, not a long line of passes which would be slow and cumbersome, even at a high level.

set-up

1. Take the pass, run, fix your defender, look at the receiver and pass in front of him - but pull back the pass. 2. Receivers: Hold your run so you have enough time and space to pass and release players wide out.

What you get your players to do

Put three players inside the 25m x3m channel. This forces them to have a little bit of depth but hold and time their runs. Get the first player to run into the cone box in front of him and deliver a pass into the next cone box. The second player does the same so the last player takes the ball on the run in the final cone box (see picture 1).