A continuous down-the-grid passing combination. Pass the length, follow your pass and bend a run to make an angle, take the wall-pass return, then lay a ball across into a team-mate's path to run onto and switch the play to the other end. Good for weight of pass, support angles and the timing of a one-two.
Young (U5 to U8)Mid (U9 to U13)Older (U14 to U18)Passing & receiving
Created by Danny Jordan
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In play
The setup
Step by step
1
The front player at one end passes the ball the full length of the grid to the front player at the other end, then follows the pass, running all the way down and bending off to make an angle for the return.
2
The receiver plays a wall pass (one-two) first time, back into the angle, to the runner.
3
The runner lays the ball across, in front of the supporting player, who has made a forward run to run onto it.
4
That player drives onto the ball and passes it the full length to the far end, where the same combination repeats back the other way. Players follow their pass and join the opposite line.
Age group
Young (U5 to U8), Mid (U9 to U13), Older (U14 to U18)
Duration
10 to 15 mins
Players
Any number, split into two equal lines, one at each end (works from about 6 up). Two players combine on each rep, everyone else waits in the two lines.
Area
A channel about 20 to 30 yards long, scaled to the age group, with a line at each end and a small marker in the middle where the one-two is played.
Equipment
Cones to mark the two ends and a central marker, and a ball at each end (use one working ball to keep it simple, or two to run both ends at once).
FA Four Corners: what this develops
Technical / TacticalPsychologicalPhysicalSocial
Objective
Rehearse the give-and-go (wall pass) and a lay-off into a runner's path, with players following their pass and showing a clean angle to receive. Sharpen weight of pass over distance, first touch and support play.
Set up
Mark a channel roughly 20 to 30 yards long, scaled to the age group. Put a line of players at each end, as many as you like, two groups facing each other, with a small marker in the middle where the combination happens. Start with a ball at the front of each line.
Coaching points
Weight the long pass so it reaches the far end on the ground, not under or over hit.
Follow your pass: sprint down and bend your run to make a clear angle, do not run straight at the receiver.
Play the wall-pass return first time where you can, into the runner's path, not to their feet.
The lay-off across should be in front of the runner, weighted so they can run onto it without breaking stride.
Time the forward run so the ball leads you, and call early for the player on the ball.
A quality first touch out of your feet sets up the next pass, keep your head up to see the picture.
Progressions
Make the wall pass and the lay-off one-touch to speed it up.
Run both ends at once with two balls, so players have to stay switched on.
Add a passive, then an active, defender in the middle to pressure the combination.
Finish the sequence with a shot on a goal at the far end of the grid.
Lengthen or shorten the channel to change the passing distance and the physical demand.
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PENN & Tylers Green produced a commanding first-half performance away at Northwood on Tuesday evening, as Matty Ayres struck twice and captain Jamie Essex also found the net.
