	Coaching Clinics: Homepage
	3-Player Warm-up: A simple warm-up to introduce the concpets.
	Miss A Man Passing Drills: A great warm-up and drill which continues to reinforce the thru pass and layoff.
	Basic Options: Explanation of basic passing movements.
	4-Player Intro: Detailed description of the 4-player drill.
	4-Player Variations: 7 Sample Variations using the 4-Player passing drill.
	2v2 plus (4Neutrals): A match related 2v2 drill first using directional keepaway and later with goals.
	4v4 plus (4 Neutrals) A match related 4v4 drill first using directional keepaway and later with goals.

Coaching Clinics

Passing Patterns for Improvement in
Combination Play and Movement Off the Ball

4-Player Variations

-Here are 7 passing variations using 4 players in a diamond shape that when well rehearsed will lead to more effective play, both in movement and anticipation. These "core" patterns will be essential to proper execution of the "match-related" 2v2(+4) and 4v4(+4) drills.

Complete Animated GIF with Discussion

Just the 4-man Variations

Click here for a reminder list and diagrams of the Pattern Variations.

Key Points:

1. As Always. Show to the pass - Lots of talk - Anticipate and Move into Space.

2. Rehearse these variations and make up your own. None of these patterns are "set in stone". There is really nothing "magical" about each variation. The key is to repeat sensible patterns involving thru passes, layoffs, flicks and combination play so that the players become intimately familiar with the movements.

3. After multiple repititions the players will begin to develop "muscle memory" and instincts that will allow some of these movements and tactics to come forth spontaneously. Players may begin to make runs and overlaps in anticipation of flicks and wall passes. Certainly, it will become second nature for them to move to supporting positions.

4. Rotate the players thru each position and into the next short "waiting" line. Each position has a slightly different role to play and should be experienced by all players. You can divide you squad into 2 groups and run the drill in different directions simultaneously with players moving rotating thru each group.

5. Mastery of these movements will lead to success in the
2v2(+4) and 4v4(+4) "match-related" drills.