Football: Passing in 4s - Short and long

Set up a playing area, divided into three equal sized playing areas. Players cannot enter another zone.

To begin with play 6 attackers (3 in both ends) v 1 defender in the middle.

The aim for the attackers is to use good passing movement to create space for the pass into the opposite zone.

3 players stand around 3 metres apart from one another with one ball between them.

They can pass in either direction and should start with two touch football, using strong side footed passes.

After a few minutes you can introduce a one touch rule to encourage players to think about where they are going to pass before they even receive the ball.

Players number themselves from one-eight (or as many numbers as there are players).

Players must then pass in numerical order.

Although they can attempt to memorise the passing order it's far more beneficial if the players call out and communicate to one another.

So once player two has the ball, player 3 should be calling the receive the pass.

Set up as shown with 2 cones (the distance of which between can be modified depending on ability or challenge you want to set your players).

1 player on each cone and 2 players in the middle, 1 ball between the 4.

Play begins with a pass from the outside into the middle. The middle players combine to get the ball out to the other side.

The sequence is then repeated from the other side.