Wide Channel 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 32 x 18 yards area.
2. 2Mark five-yard channels down both touchlines with flat cones.
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. 4The practice is started by a pass into one of the wide channels.
5. 5End actions only count when the ball has travelled through a wide channel first.

Progressions

• +Defender allowed into the channel to make it live
• +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

• -Channel is a free zone with no defender at all
• -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

• -Switch the ball to the far channel before the end action
• -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

• -Passing behind the moving partner
• -Stopping the ball dead at every gate
• -Everything funnelling into a crowded middle