Week 22

Outcomes

• ✓Players can play a sharp wall pass to a teammate and sprint forward to receive
• ✓Players can act as the wall — returning the ball first-time into the space
• ✓Players can time the forward run so they receive behind the defender
• ✓Players can identify when the wall pass is the right option

Equipment

• 12 size-4 balls
• 24 disc cones
• 4 small goals
• bibs

Run of show

1. 1. Arrival Ball Mastery

   8m

   Set up: Pairs, 6 yards apart.

   How to run it: Simple one-two passing: A passes to B, B returns first-time, A passes back — continuous. After 2 minutes add movement: both players advance 1 yard with each one-two until they've covered 10 yards, then walk back.

   • ›Wall player's return pass is to space ahead of the runner
   • ›Keep it crisp — this is the rhythm of a one-two

2. 2. Dynamic Warm-Up

   10m

   Set up: 20-yard channel. Groups of 3: attacker, wall player, passive defender.

   How to run it: Attacker dribbles toward passive defender. Wall player stands wide at midpoint. Attacker plays wall pass around the defender, sprints to receive, and finishes. Passive defender steps aside at first. Full run 3 minutes each role.

   • ›Attacker: pass, sprint in one motion — no pause
   • ›Wall: pass into the channel, not back to attacker's feet

3. 3. Technical Practice

   15m

   Set up: Two active defenders in a 20×10 yd channel. Attacker pairs beat each defender one at a time with wall passes.

   How to run it: Pair A works through the channel: play a one-two to get past defender 1, continue and play a second one-two to beat defender 2. No other tricks allowed — only wall passes. Active defenders try to intercept. Rotate pairs and defenders every 5 minutes.

   • ›Play the pass when 3 yards from the defender — not too early
   • ›Run at pace after the pass — timing the run is the key
   • ›Wall player must be positioned wide enough to enable the angle

4. 4. Skill Game

   15m

   Set up: 5v3 in a 20×18 yd zone with two small goals.

   How to run it: Attacking team can score normally, but gets 3 points for a goal that follows a successful wall pass beat. Coach calls 'wall pass goal!' when it happens. Defenders try to block wall pass angles by positioning between attacker and wall player.

   • ›Sell the dribble before playing the wall pass — fake the commitment
   • ›The defender's commitment is the trigger to play the pass
   • ›Wall player must show at the right angle — not square, not behind

5. 5. Small-Sided Game

   17m

   Set up: 4v4, 25×18 yd, small goals.

   How to run it: Open match with a wall pass bonus: any goal preceded by a wall pass earns 2 points. Coach narrates loudly when a wall pass is used — successful or not — to reinforce awareness of the concept.

   • ›The wall pass works best when the defender is between you and the goal
   • ›If the wall pass isn't available, don't force it — find another option
   • ›Every one-two you complete in training rewires your instincts

6. 6. Cool-Down & Review

   5m

   Set up: Circle.

   How to run it: Quad and hip stretches. Coach walks through the one-two mechanics at walking pace with two volunteers. Group claps for each successful demonstration.

   • ›Pass, run, receive — three actions, one fluid movement
   • ›The wall pass is one of the most elegant skills in football

Outcomes

• ✓Players can choose between a wall pass and other combination options in the game
• ✓Players can overlap as a supporting runner after playing a one-two
• ✓Players can defend against combination play by denying the wall player
• ✓Players can link three players in a combination to break through a compact defence

Equipment

• 10 size-4 balls
• 24 disc cones
• 4 small goals
• bibs

Run of show

1. 1. Arrival Ball Mastery

   8m

   Set up: Groups of 3, 15-yard channel.

   How to run it: Three-player one-two-one-two: A plays to B, B returns first-time to A, A plays to C, C returns to A. Continuous movement — everyone shifting forward. Switch roles every 3 runs.

   • ›Each return pass goes into space ahead of the runner
   • ›The chain is broken by hesitation — keep pace

2. 2. Dynamic Warm-Up

   10m

   Set up: Full group in a 25×20 yd grid.

   How to run it: Free play, no defenders. Players may only score by performing a visible one-two with a teammate. After a one-two, they can shoot into one of four small goals. Five minutes — count team goals. This creates pressure-free combination habits.

   • ›Any two players can combine — switch the one-two partner
   • ›Move quickly after the one-two — don't celebrate early

3. 3. Technical Practice

   15m

   Set up: 3v2 box-to-goal: 25×18 yd, three attackers vs two defenders plus a small goal.

   How to run it: Attackers must use at least one wall pass in the sequence to score. If they score with a wall pass involved, 2 points. If no wall pass, 1 point. Defenders try to deny the return pass by pressing the wall player. Switch after every third sequence.

   • ›Defender denial: get between attacker and wall player early
   • ›Attackers: vary the combination — wall pass then overlap to confuse
   • ›Three-player combination: A to B (wall), B to C (through), C scores

4. 4. Skill Game

   15m

   Set up: 4v4 possession game, 20×20 yd, four small gates at the corners.

   How to run it: Teams score by dribbling through a corner gate. Combinations are rewarded: if the dribble through the gate follows a wall pass, 2 points. Games are 3-minute rounds with 30-second water breaks. High intensity.

   • ›Wall pass unlocks the gate — set it up deliberately
   • ›After the one-two, explode through the gate
   • ›Defenders: press the passer and deny the one-two angle

5. 5. Small-Sided Game

   17m

   Set up: 5v5 on 30×22 yd, standard small goals.

   How to run it: Open match. The only rule addition: after every goal, the scoring player must shout which combination was used — 'wall pass,' 'through ball,' 'dribble,' etc. This builds vocabulary and reflection.

   • ›Every combination is a decision — understand why you chose it
   • ›Wall pass is best with space behind the defender
   • ›Don't be predictable — vary your combinations

6. 6. Cool-Down & Review

   5m

   Set up: Circle.

   How to run it: Full body static stretches. Players vote: 'Hardest part of the wall pass?' Options: timing the run, weight of the pass, or positioning as the wall. Coach addresses the most popular answer.

   • ›Combinations make football beautiful — keep practising them
   • ›Every great goal is built on combination play