Passing, First touch, Possession
Four players in a line 10–15 metres apart, with a marker at each position. Numbers from top to bottom: two, three, four, five. Number two starts with the ball. Downwards: number two passes to number three, who returns it straight back. Number two plays a long pass past number three to number four, number four guides the ball to number three, and number three plays a long pass past number four to number five. Upwards, the same as a mirror image: number five passes to number four, gets the return pass and plays a long pass past number four to number three. Number three guides it to number four, number four plays a long pass back to number two, and the sequence starts again. Number three and number four move away from the line to opposite sides just before the pass is played. This allows the long pass to go past the previous player. After their own pass, they return to the line. Short passes with two touches, long passes firmly along the ground. When the pattern is flowing, tighten the short passes to one-touch.
The movement to get free to the side is timed with the passer’s approach, not after the pass. Non-kicking foot behind the ball, head up until the moment of contact, contact point in the middle of the ball with the inside of the foot, and follow-through in the direction of the pass. Scanning to the open side before the pass arrives: the next target is checked in advance. The first touch is guided away from the marker in the direction in which the pass will continue. Return to the line after your own pass so that the next sequence starts from the same set-up.
Line passing 3/3 is a football drill on TacticsBoard. Category: Passing, First touch, Possession. Age group: U10+. Browse more football drills or create your own for free.