	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

4v4 (+4Neutrals) Directional Keep-away

-Here a directional keep-away game that builds on the 2v2(+4) drill and utilizes all the skills rehearsed in the earlier progressions. The drill is more "match-related" with increased complexity and defensive pressure. Furthermore, like some of the earlier progressions, this drill can be "morphed" into a nice shooting drill.

-This is another fabulous "small sided scrimmage" drill that can really help refine tactical skills. This drill uses 12 players (3 sets of 4), you can quickly switch out the 4 neutral players for an entire team of field players to change roles and provide a rest. Have a mini-tournament between each set of 4 players.

-Since this drill adds complexity and more defensive pressure, it can easily deteriorate into poorly shaped teams and kicking contests. If this happens, change the defense to "shadow" or token defense and re-establish a "rhythm".

Key Points for - 2v2(+4) and 4v4(+4):

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

2. Small sided scrimmages are essential. We all know that, but we can also get frustrated when the scrimmage turns into a "kick-ball game", or a "herd", or a "one player attack" with all others watching. If we are not rehearsing proper movement and team play, then we are unintentionally reinforcing failure.

"We implore them to move - but they may not
really know the proper places to go."

3. Use the variations in the 4-Player drill to begin to create sensible movement and improve descision making. When the layoffs, thru passes, flicks and wall passes become "second nature", the small sided games will become more sophisticated and should more easily translate into "game day".

4.When the passing becomes disorganized and their movements clumsey, they may need a rest, but it also may be time to "turn-off" the defense and have them switch to "token", "shadow", or "ghost" defenders. Now, the attackers can try to develop a rhythm in their attack with less pressure. If this fails, it may be time to enlarge the grid and perhaps rehearse a few "passing variations".

5. Smart defenders will learn how to "cheat" the drill. Since they know the drill is focused on passing, layoffs and flicks, they will begin to defend unnaturally against these passes. They must be reminded to play "goal-side" of their mark. Furthermore, if they do move too far out of position to prevent an anticipated pass or flick, the attacker should "burn" them with a quick turn and a "dribbling" attack towards the neutral players.

Have Fun!