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Three-zone line-breaking game

U11–U16 Passing and receivingBuild-up play

Three players beat a presser to find a midfielder marked in a middle zone, who turns and passes to targets on the end line.

Three-zone line-breaking game Zone 1: 3v1 Zone 2: 1v1 Zone 3: targets 8 T T Team A Opponent Pass
Three-zone game: the back three keep the ball against one presser and look for a line-breaking pass into the midfielder, who moves off the defender, turns and passes to a target.

Rules

  • Area 45×30 m split into three 15 m zones
  • Zone 1: 3v1; zone 2: midfielder v defender; zone 3: two targets on the end line
  • A point when the midfielder receives and passes on to a target
  • Rotate roles every 3 minutes

To make it harder

  • Add a second presser in zone 1
  • Passer may follow into zone 2 to create a 2v1

Coaching points

  • Midfielder loses the marker just before the pass
  • Receive on the half-turn and play forward quickly
  • Passers wait for the right moment instead of forcing it

From the session “Midfielder Training Drills: Scanning and Playing Between the Lines”

Read the full session →

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