A simple setup view for this drill.
Setup
Set two players at the ends of a channel and one player between them. The end player passes into the middle player, who lays it off for the third player running beyond.
Steps
- Start with the middle player checking away.
- Pass into the middle player's front foot.
- Lay the ball off to the side.
- Third player runs beyond and receives forward.
- Rotate positions every few minutes.
Coaching points
- Move before the pass, not after it arrives.
- Lay the ball into the runner's path.
- Keep the run wide enough to see.
- Play the next action at a useful pace.
Common mistakes
- All three players standing in a line.
- The layoff travelling behind the runner.
- Running before the first pass is secure.
- Chasing one-touch speed when the shape is not ready.
Make it easier
Allow the middle player two touches and remove the timing demand on the run.
Make it harder
Add a passive defender or require the runner to finish through a target gate.
How to know it is working
The third player arrives as the layoff is played and can continue forward without stopping the ball dead.
Safety
Keep the channel clear and build speed after the passing line is reliable.