Passing

Counter Passing Gate Channel

Repeat accurate passing through tight gates

Passing
First Touch
Receiving

Counter Passing Gate Channel is a 14-minute passing drill for 4-18 players, suitable for Under 9 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.

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Passing
First Touch
Receiving
Technical Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Counter Attack

Duration

14 min

Players

4-18

Pitch size

32 x 18 yards

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Pitch set-up: Counter Passing Gate Channel1232 x 18 yards

Counter Passing Gate Channel — 3 gates — score by travelling through · 32 x 18 yards

Step 1 of 5Pairs travel down the channel passing through each gate in turn.

  1. 1. Pairs travel down the channel passing through each gate in turn.
  2. 2. The receiver must control beyond the gate before returning the ball.
  3. 3. Turn at the end and work back down the channel.
  4. 4. The team in possession starts each rep in their own half and must build forwards.
  5. 5. Turnovers earn a direct counter at the mini goals worth two points.
  • Cones mark the area
  • Cone gates to dribble / pass through
  • Ball
  • Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble

Objectives

  • -Repeat accurate passing through tight gates
  • -Improve first touch away from the gate
  • -Add travelling passes on the move

Setup

  1. 1A channel with three passing gates spaced along it in a 32 x 18 yards area.
  2. 2Place two mini goals on the halfway line for the counter-attacking side to aim at.
  3. 3One ball per pair and a spare at the coach's feet.

Coaching instructions

  1. 1Pairs travel down the channel passing through each gate in turn.
  2. 2The receiver must control beyond the gate before returning the ball.
  3. 3Turn at the end and work back down the channel.
  4. 4The team in possession starts each rep in their own half and must build forwards.
  5. 5Turnovers earn a direct counter at the mini goals worth two points.

Coaching points

  • -Pass through the middle of the gate
  • -First touch across the body
  • -Weight the ball to the receiver's stride
  • -Counter in a straight line — the first pass forward beats the recovery run

Common mistakes

  • -Passing behind the moving partner
  • -Stopping the ball dead at every gate
  • -Dribbling into traffic when the counter is on

Where this drill fits

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