4-3-2 passing with a purpose

CHALLENGE

Pass, realign, stay square and pass again.

SET UP

Three 10m wide channels, side by side.

how to do it

• Put four attackers at one end of the first channel and two defenders about 7m away.
• he attackers run forward, aiming to get the ball to the end player. The defenders mark the first two players and pressurise them (4v2).
• Once the end player has received the ball, they put it down and then become a feeder.
• The attackers realign in the middle box and the defenders realign at the other end. The feeder releases the ball but does not join the attack. The defenders pressurise the first two attackers but now it’s a 3v2.
• The last player becomes the feeder for the final channel and again sits out the attack, which is now a full-on 2v2.
• If the attack makes a mistake, they go back to the start.

Development

• Allow defenders to drift out and full tackling. The players still have to realign to start in the next box and the feeder still has to run to the corner before they pass.
• This will inevitably slow things down, increasing the requirements for good timing and running skills to preserve the space.

TECHNIQUE

• Fix a defender by running straight then pass the ball quickly.
• Keep moving the ball with short passes.
• Attack at pace, so hold your depth.