Breaking Lines: Three-Zone Passing
Two teams play in three zones. The team in possession scores a point each time it moves the ball from the back zone to the front zone with a pass through the middle zone.
- Age
- U13–Senior
- Players
- 10–14
- Duration
- 18 min
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Intensity
- Medium
- Area
- 30 × 25 m
- Type
- Tactical
- Approach
- Global
- Format
- Positional game
- Objectives
- Technical: Passing
- Tactical: Build-up play, Decision making
- Concepts worked on
- Technical:Passing
- Tactical:ScanningMovement to receiveDepth
Training diagram
Legend
- Attacker
- Defender
- Pass
- Ball
- Cone
Breaking lines means passing past a line of defenders to a teammate behind it. The middle zone is crowded with defenders, so the back players must wait for a free lane and the midfielder must find the gap between two defenders. When the lane is closed, the team circulates and tries again.
Objective
Find and play passes that break a line of defenders.
Organisation
- Area of 30 × 25 m split into three 10 m zones.
- Team in possession: two players in the back zone, one in the middle, one in the front. Defenders: two in the middle zone, two in the front zone. Add neutrals to balance numbers.
How it works
- Point for a pass from the back zone that reaches the front zone, directly or via the middle player.
- Defenders who win the ball try to dribble over the back line.
- Players stay in their zones. 4 × 3 minutes; swap roles.
Coaching points
- Move the ball side to side quickly to open a gap between the defenders.
- Middle player: position yourself between two defenders and behind their line, on the half-turn.
- Pass firmly and to the receiver's back foot.
Progressions
- Limit to two touches.
- A pass that skips the middle zone directly counts double.
Regressions
- Only one defender in the middle zone.
Variations
- Allow one player to dribble into the next zone.
Key principles
- Patience to circulate, speed to break the line.
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