Passing
Tempo Third Man Box
Coach the third-man run and the pass that sets it up
Passing
Possession
Attacking
Coach the third-man run and the pass that sets it up. Set up the area, follow the steps and use the coaching points below.
Back to drill libraryPassing
Possession
Attacking
Skill Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Tempo
Age
Under 9 to Adults
Duration
16 min
Players
6-16
Area / pitch size
26 x 22 yards
Difficulty
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Equipment
Balls, Cones, Bibs
Coaching focus
Coach the third-man run and the pass that sets it up
Objective
- -Coach the third-man run and the pass that sets it up
- -Improve timing between the set and the release
- -Break lines with a forward pass
Setup
- 1A box with a target player on each end line in a 26 x 22 yards area.
- 2Set a visible timer or have an assistant count aloud from the side of the area.
- 3Balls at both end lines, bibs for the middle defenders.
How to play
- 1Play in to the front player, who sets back to a supporting team-mate.
- 2The third player then receives the forward pass beyond the defensive line.
- 3Sequence resets from the opposite end line.
- 4The clock starts the moment the first pass is played in.
- 5The sequence must reach the end action inside eight seconds or the rep is void.
Coaching points
- -Set the ball firmly, not softly
- -Third runner times the movement late
- -Forward pass in front of the runner
- -Pass with pace and intent — under-hit passes cost the clock
Progressions
- +Cut the clock to six seconds
- +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful
Regressions
- -Stretch the clock to twelve seconds
- -Simplify the area or the service until success returns
Variations
- -Reps finished inside five seconds score double
- -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch
Common mistakes
- -Third runner going too early
- -Set pass played into feet with no angle
- -Slow, sideways passing that burns the clock
Related Football Drills & Sessions
- More football passing drills
- More football possession drills
- More football attacking drills
- Football drills for U9s
- Football drills for U10s
- Football drills for U11s
- Football drills for U12s
- Football drills for U13s
- Football drills for U14s
- Football drills for U15s
- Football drills for U16s
- Football drills for 6 players
- Football drills by age, topic and squad size
- Football session plans built around this theme
Related drills
- Age band
- Under 9 to Adults
- Players
- 6-16
- Time
- 18 min
- Area
- 28 x 24 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Passing
FREE
Overload Third Man Box
Coach the third-man run and the pass that sets it up
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
PassingPossessionAttacking
- Age band
- Under 9 to Adults
- Players
- 6-16
- Time
- 16 min
- Area
- 22 x 18 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Passing
FREE
Underload Third Man Box
Coach the third-man run and the pass that sets it up
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
PassingPossessionAttacking
- Age band
- Under 9 to Adults
- Players
- 6-16
- Time
- 16 min
- Area
- 24 x 20 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Passing
FREE
Two-Touch Third Man Box
Coach the third-man run and the pass that sets it up
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
PassingPossessionAttacking
- Age band
- Under 9 to Adults
- Players
- 6-16
- Time
- 18 min
- Area
- 30 x 26 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Passing
FREE
Transition Third Man Box
Coach the third-man run and the pass that sets it up
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
PassingPossessionAttacking
- Age band
- Under 9 to Adults
- Players
- 6-16
- Time
- 16 min
- Area
- 22 x 18 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Passing
FREE
Pressure Third Man Box
Coach the third-man run and the pass that sets it up
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
PassingPossessionAttacking
- Age band
- Under 9 to Adults
- Players
- 6-16
- Time
- 18 min
- Area
- 26 x 22 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Passing
FREE
Continuous Third Man Box
Coach the third-man run and the pass that sets it up
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
PassingPossessionAttacking