[saabrian]

After working on some more basic stuff earlier in the season with my modified (basically U-14) boys, I know want to work on some basic triangle passing stuff and overlapping runs. Any suggested drills for either? Thanks

[JohnW]

A couple of things you might try:

For support and movement off the ball, I suggest a 5 v 3 in a grid about 15 x 30 yards. (You can adjust the grid depending on the skill level of the players, tightening it as the players become more skilled.) You might even need only two defenders to start and/or having players start at 50 percent speed moving toward game speed. If they're pretty skilled, have them go two-touch.

The thing to stress is that players should be moving to space, using passes to split defenders and moving to a position of support. (Obviously, a player cannot do all of these at one time.) I will watch the runs and movement off the ball, freeze players, point out good run or run not made (same can be true of shape) then restart and let play continue.

If the players are just starting, a simple drill you can do is have the players go 3 v 1 with the three players only allowed to make runs along an imaginary box. Think of X1, X2 and X3 on an L. As the defender provides pressure, X1, 2 and 3 rotate so that there is always a square pass and a drop pass (or square and forward).

This drill can be a little static, so you want to keep it rotating.

With overlapping run, I will sometimes have players do what is basically a two-man weave. X1 starts with the ball (near the right touch line) and dribbles more toward the middle of the field. X2 makes an overlapping run toward the touch line, receives ball and dribbles back toward middle, then X1 makes overlap, etc.

I usually do this drill between the end of the 18-yard box and touch line. I like it because it's a simple drill, combines conditioning and a number of touches and running off the ball.

jgw