Passing
Third Man Run Passing Pattern
Understand the third man run idea
Passing
Possession
Attacking
Third Man Run Passing Pattern is a 15-minute passing drill for 6-16 players, suitable for Under 10 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.
Back to drill libraryPassing
Possession
Attacking
Technical Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Combination Play
Pattern Play
Duration
15 min
Players
6-16
Pitch size
25 x 25 yards
Ability levels
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Third Man Run Passing Pattern — Two lines working across the area · 25 x 25 yards
Step 1 of 4Base player passes into the striker cone who sets it back.
- 1. Base player passes into the striker cone who sets it back.
- 2. Third player breaks past and receives the forward pass.
- 3. Follow your pass, run the pattern both ways.
- 4. Rotation: Follow your pass.
- Ball
- Dotted arrow = rotation between repetitions
- Two facing lines — pass and follow
- Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble
Objectives
- -Understand the third man run idea
- -Time the run to arrive as the pass is played
- -Pass forward, back and through at pace
Setup
- 1Four cones in a diamond with a player at each.
- 2Extra players queue behind two of the cones.
- 3One ball to start at the base of the diamond.
Coaching instructions
- 1Base player passes into the striker cone who sets it back.
- 2Third player breaks past and receives the forward pass.
- 3Follow your pass, run the pattern both ways.
Coaching points
- -Set pass firm and out of the feet
- -Third man starts the run before the set is played
- -Head up to time the release
- -Receive on the back foot facing forward
Common mistakes
- -Running too early and being offside in the game version
- -Weak, under-hit set passes
- -Standing still waiting for the ball