Two-Touch Passing Gate Channel

Objective

• -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 26 x 12 yards area.
2. 2Place a marker at every receiving position so players know where to set the ball before it arrives.
3. 3One ball per pair and a spare at the coach's feet.

How to play

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. 4Ball enters from the coach and the first receiver is on two touches from that moment.
5. 5Count completed sequences under the touch limit — best of three 3-minute rounds.

Progressions

• +Drop the central players to one touch
• +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

• -Allow three touches while the picture is being learned
• -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

• -Two touches in your own half, free touches in the final third
• -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

• -Passing behind the moving partner
• -Stopping the ball dead at every gate
• -Taking a settling touch that kills the tempo