Combination play drills. Pass. Move. Combine.

Practices

Combination play drills and practices

WU-54 · Technical practice

Technical Combination Play

Get your players moving and connecting early with this sharp technical warm up focused on passing, movement, and combination play.

U9–U17 · 5-10 players · 1/4 Pitch

95-P2 · Technical practice

3rd Man Run Combinations to Finish

Sharpen your team's attacking play with this dynamic final third combination practice, designed to develop third-man runs and precise timing

U12–U14 · 5-10 players · 1/4 Pitch · 2 progressions + player questions in Club

80-P4 · Technical practice

Penetrating Passes Between the Lines

Develop your team’s ability to break lines with purpose in this technical attacking practice focused on penetrating passes and intelligent.

U12 up to adult · 11-16 players · 1/4 Pitch

97-P7 · Pattern of play

How to Play Out From the Back (4231)

This engaging pattern of play develops both technical precision and tactical awareness for effective build-up play in a 4231 formation.

U15 up to adult · 5-10 players · Full pitch · 2 progressions + player questions in Club

1TO1-P26 · Technical practice

1st Touch and Passing

Take your players’ first touch, scanning, and passing accuracy to the next level with this focused technical practice.

U9 up to adult · 2-4 players · 1/8 Pitch · 2 progressions in Club

84-P1 · Technical practice

1st Touch, Passing and Fitness

This simple technical practice takes place in a 20 by 20-yard area and develops players 1st touch, passing accuracy and fitness.

U6–U11 · 5-10 players · 1/8 Pitch · 3 progressions + player questions in Club

94-P2 · Rondo

2 v 1 Transfer Rondos

This practice is designed to develop passing and movement to receive under pressure, focusing on working as a pair.

U12–U14 · 5-10 players · 1/8 Pitch · 2 progressions + player questions in Club

66-P8 · Wave of play

3rd Man Run Attacking Play

Unlock attacking creativity with this third-man run wave practice, designed to develop technical patterns that break defensive lines.

U15 up to adult · 17+ players · Full pitch · 1 progression + player questions in Club

48-P12 · Pattern of play

3rd Man Runs in Behind

This pattern of play develops fullbacks making third-man runs to break in behind the defence, starting from the midfield.

U15 up to adult · 5-10 players · 1/2 Pitch · 2 progressions + player questions in Club

97-P9 · Functional practice

Beat the Press to Play Out (4231)

Master the art of building from the back with this functional practice, designed to refine your team's ability to navigate a high press.

U15 up to adult · 11-16 players · 1/2 Pitch · 3 progressions + player questions in Club

39-P1 · Technical practice

Body Shape to Turn Out: Technical

This practice is focused on open body shape and turning out of trouble to connect play in a technical activation passing practice.

U9 up to adult · 5-10 players · 1/8 Pitch · 1 progression + player questions in Club

85-P10 · Phase of play

Build Up From The Back (4231)

This practice develops Phase 1 build up play, specifically focusing on movements and patterns when building from the back in a 4231 setup.

U12–U17 · 11-16 players · 1/3 Pitch · player questions in Club

92-P10 · Phase of play

Building from the Back Under Pressure

Master effective build-up play under pressure in this engaging 4231 focused phase of play practice.

U15–U17 · 11-16 players · Full pitch · 2 progressions + player questions in Club

02-P4 · Technical practice

Counter Attacking: Technical

Practice 4 of theme 2 is played in a 30 by 30 yard square, with a GK at each end and 2 groups of players at the side of each goal..

U12 up to adult · 5-10 players · 1/3 Pitch · 1 progression + player questions in Club

54-P2 · Technical practice

Creating Angles to Receive

It's time to develop your team's passing and movement with this simple yet effective technical practice.

U12–U14 · 2-4 players · 1/8 Pitch · 2 progressions + player questions in Club

1TO1-P22 · Individual practice

Developing the Switch of Play-CM

This 1 to 1 CM practice helps players improve body shape, scanning, and execution to deliver consistent, game-realistic switches.

U12 up to adult · 1 player · 1/3 Pitch · 2 progressions + player questions in Club

33-P1 · Technical practice

Diamond Finishing Combinations: Technical

This practice is focused on embedding attacking principles in a 4-4-2 Diamond in a technical finishing practice.

U9 up to adult · 5-10 players · 1/4 Pitch · 1 progression + player questions in Club

50-P5 · Small-sided game

Finishing Game & Switching Play

This SSG takes place in a 25 by 35-yard area and focuses on developing players decision making in possession and ability to finish.

U12–U17 · 11-16 players · 1/4 Pitch · 2 progressions + player questions in Club

80-P9 · Functional practice

How to Penetrate the Low Block

Looking to break through a low block? This practice helps teams craft creative solutions to unlock compact defences & create opportunities.

U15 up to adult · 11-16 players · 1/2 Pitch · player questions in Club

100-P3 · Technical practice

Improve Striker Movement & Finishing 1 v 1

This finishing practice breaks down the key movements that help attackers lose defenders, receive on the half turn, and attack goal with confidence.

U9 up to adult · 5-10 players · 1/3 Pitch · 1 progression in Club

36-P13 · Advanced lead-in to 11 v 11

Maintaining Possession in the Midfield

This practice takes place in an octagon shaped playing area and develops midfielders combination play and ability to maintain possession.

U15 up to adult · 11-16 players · 1/3 Pitch · 1 progression + player questions in Club

99-P4 · Technical practice

Midfield Solutions to Beat the Press (1321)

This technical passing practice focuses on building play from the back and progressing through a 2-3-1 press.

U9–U14 · 5-10 players · Full pitch · 3 progressions + player questions in Club

82-P1 · Technical practice

Movement in Behind to Finish

This practice takes place in a 40 by 45-yard area and focuses on developing passing combinations to create opportunities to finish.

U12–U17 · 5-10 players · 1/2 Pitch · 1 progression + player questions in Club

32-P3 · Warm-up

One Touch Passing Combination

This one touch passing combination can get your players focused on passing and movement and ready for your session.

U12–U17 · 5-10 players · 1/8 Pitch · 3 progressions + player questions in Club

100-P4 · Technical practice

One Touch Passing Combinations

Increase the speed and precision of your team’s passing with this sharp technical practice.

U9 up to adult · 2-4 players · 1/8 Pitch · 1 progression in Club

38-P1 · Technical practice

One-Two Combinations: Technical

This activation technical practice incorporates opening the body to play forward and one-two combinations to set and spin.

U9 up to adult · 2-4 players · 1/8 Pitch · 1 progression + player questions in Club

02-P5 · Opposed practice

Overload Skill: Counter Attacking

With a 30 x 30 yard area in which to work, as well as a 15 x 15 area at the top of the pitch for players to keep possession.

U12 up to adult · 5-10 players · 1/3 Pitch · 1 progression + player questions in Club

WU-34 · Warm-up

Pass and Press Activation

This practice takes place in a small 10 by 10-yard area and focuses on activating players passing and pressing for the upcoming session.

U12 up to adult · 2-4 players · 1/8 Pitch · 1 progression + player questions in Club

87-P3 · Technical practice

Passing in a Diamond

This technical practice takes place in a 20 by 20-yard area and focuses on developing passing when playing in a diamond setup.

U9–U14 · 5-10 players · 1/8 Pitch · 3 progressions + player questions in Club

14-P1 · Technical practice

Playing Out From The Back: Technical Passing

This Technical Passing practice is aimed at improving players short passing, control & movement off the ball, in addition to quick thinking.

U12–U17 · 5-10 players · 1/8 Pitch · 2 progressions + player questions in Club

87-P8 · Opposed practice

Possession in a Diamond Setup

Take your team's possession play to the next level with this dynamic diamond-shaped drill!

U9–U17 · 5-10 players · 1/8 Pitch · 2 progressions + player questions in Club

43-P1 · Technical practice

Short Passing Combinations

This technical practice takes place in a 15 by 20-yard area and focuses on developing one touch passing combinations

U9–U14 · 2-4 players · 1/8 Pitch · 2 progressions + player questions in Club

01-P6 · Small-sided game

Small Sided Game: Attacking Centrally

This Small Sided Game is designed to encourage players to attack effectively in central areas, building on the Technical & Skill practices.

U12 up to adult · 5-10 players · 1/4 Pitch · 2 progressions + player questions in Club

WU-33 · Warm-up

Speed, Agility & Finishing

This activation practice takes place in a 25 by 25-yard area and focuses on developing players speed, passing and finishing.

U12 up to adult · 5-10 players · 1/8 Pitch · 1 progression + player questions in Club

43-P6 · Small-sided game

Support The Attack! (SSG)

This SSG takes place in a 25 by 35-yard area and focuses on developing players penetrating passing & movement to support the attack.

U12–U17 · 11-16 players · 1/4 Pitch · 2 progressions + player questions in Club

94-P1 · Technical practice

Technical Movement to Receive

This technical practice is designed to improve passing and receiving, with a focus on movement and first touch.

U9–U11 · 2-4 players · 1/8 Pitch · 2 progressions + player questions in Club

01-P4 · Technical practice

Technical Passing: Attacking Centrally

Practice 4 of theme 1 Attacking Centrally, is a technical passing practice that develops player combinations to finish.

U12 up to adult · 5-10 players · 1/8 Pitch · 1 progression + player questions in Club

84-P4 · Technical practice

Technical Passing Combos

This technical practice takes place in a 20 by 25-yard area and focuses on developing 1 & 2 touch passing combinations and dribbling.

U15–U17 · 5-10 players · 1/8 Pitch · 3 progressions + player questions in Club

83-P4 · Technical practice

Technical Switches of Play

This technical practice is focused on switching play and challenges player's timing of movement, and ability to execute that long diagonal.

U12–U14 · 5-10 players · 1/4 Pitch · 2 progressions + player questions in Club

54-P1 · Technical practice

The Christmas Sled Race

Celebrate the Holidays with the Christmas Sled Race! Bring festive fun to your final training session of the year.

U6–U11 · 17+ players · 1/3 Pitch · 3 progressions + player questions in Club

94-P3 · Technical practice

The Directional 1st Touch Square

This technical practice focuses on improving directional first touches and passing.

U9–U11 · 5-10 players · 1/8 Pitch · 1 progression + player questions in Club

93-P6 · Small-sided game

The Mazy Run Game

This dynamic small sided game takes place in a 40 by 24-yard area and focuses on developing possession, ball control and crossing to finish

U12–U14 · 5-10 players · 1/4 Pitch · 2 progressions + player questions in Club

48-P3 · Technical practice

Third Man Run Combination Play

This Technical passing soccer drill is focused on developing third-man runs and challenges players to time their forward runs & passes well

U12–U17 · 5-10 players · 1/8 Pitch · 1 progression + player questions in Club

93-P7 · Pattern of play

Wide Rotations & Crosses to Finish

This pattern of play practice is designed to enhance player rotations, combinations, and precise deliveries to finish.

U15–U17 · 11-16 players · 1/2 Pitch · 1 progression + player questions in Club

These are 44 of the 365 practices in Club for this page. Start a free trial to see them all ↗

Coaching it

How to get more from these practices.

Questions

What coaches ask.

What is combination play in football?

Combination play is when two or more players pass and move off each other, for example a one-two or a third-man run, to get past defenders and create a chance.

Are these practices free?

The practice outlines on this page are free to read, with the setup and key coaching points for each practice. The full coaching videos, progressions and player questions are in the Touchtight Club library, which you can try free for 14 days (card required).

More free practices

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