Playing the final pass

Organisation

• The players play in pairs opposite each other and pass to each other through a gate in the middle
• They start just 1m either side of the gate and work backwards up to 6m away from the gate, passing the ball through the gate each time
• If they misplace the pass, hitting the gate or failing to pass through it, then they return to the 1m line
• The first pair to make it back to the 6m mark are the winners

Ways to make the exercise easier 

• Make the gates large to begin with

Ways to make the exercise harder

• Make the gates smaller
• Require only the best pair to reach further away (e.g. 8m) to make it harder for them
• Challenge the players to have a go using just one touch or their weaker foot only

Great questions to ask the players

• What is more important: accuracy or speed?
• Can you think about how you aim your pass?
• Can you show me how you can pass accurately with a good body position?

Safety tips

• Create a safe space to play

Organisation

• Organise two teams on a pitch with three zones: play 5v5 in the middle zone, while the “team captain” is positioned in each end zone and is the only player allowed to score
• The teams have to combine to get the ball to the captain to score
• Rotate the captains after each goal or attempt at goal

Ways to make the exercise easier

• No defenders allowed into the end zone

Ways to make the exercise harder

• Allow one defender to enter the end zone when the captain receives the ball and to try to prevent goals
• Add a goalkeeper at each end

Great questions to ask the players

• Can you find ways to reach the captain with a good pass?
• (To the captain) Can you move into spaces to make yourself more available?
• (To the captain) Can you score quickly before being challenged by the defender?

Safety tips

• Create a safe space to play

Organisation 

• Organise the players into teams of equal numbers and create mini-pitches for games of no more than 7v7
• Let the players play and encourage them to try different positions each game
• Let the players referee their own games

Ways to make the exercise easier

• Give a team one or more extra players if you have uneven numbers or a weaker team
• Use large goals

Ways to make the exercise harder

• Limit the number of touches
• Add conditions to the game – e.g. requiring goals to be scored in certain ways (e.g. with first-time finishes, headers, volleys, etc.)
• Give one team fewer players

Great questions to ask the players

• Can you organise yourselves as a team?
• Can you all take turns to have a go in goal?
• Can you decide on a condition for how each team has to score goals?

Safety tips

• Create a safe space to play