Everton Box Passing Drill

•Set up a 12x12 grid with 2 cones in the middle of the grid 2 yards apart.

•Have a line of people at each cone around the grid and 1 person on each of the 2 cones in the middle.

•2 balls at 2 opposite diagonal corners of the grid.

•2 players in the middle check away from the ball opposite them and check to the ball while switching sides. They receive a pass, check their shoulder, fix their shape, receive on the half turn and make a pass to the next cone. The person receiving the pass does the same shoulder check and reception on the half turn and then works moves while dribbling to the next line. After the turn and pass the player moves to where he passed and the first passer also follows his pass and moves to the middle now.

•Progression has the pass to the middle being a man on call, instead of the turn call. Now the ball is passed back with a set call and then sent up to the next line. Same change of line process goes on.

•Next progression has the player in the middle calling for an overlap after he makes the set pass and then receiving the ball back and then sending it up to the next cone.

•Lastly, after the overlap, don’t pass straight but instead pass to the opposite corner player (who checked away, checked to, checked shoulder, fixed shape, received on the half turn) and then he plays a give and go with the player opposite him to then continue the sequence on the other side. (only 2 balls are used in this progressed version of this drill.)

3 Team Possession

Divide your group into 3 teams. Make the space appropriate for the age level and number of players you have. 2 of the 3 teams are on offense, 1 is on defense. Once the defense wins the ball, the color they won it from is now on defense and play continues.

Great for working transition from O to D and vice versa, also great for giving your offense time on the ball to learn to possess the ball. Make it more challenging with limit of touches, number of passes for a point, must be a combination play etc.

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Crossing Game

Make 2 18 yard boxes as the playing area with 2 goals and 2 teams.

Outside the 18 yard sideline is the space for the edge players to play. They cannot move into the opponents outside area nor can they enter into the field of play.

The goal is simple, the ball must be played wide before a goal can be scored.

Players on the outside have 2 touches, players on the inside have as many as they like. Feel free to change up the rules depending on the need for the group.

Coaching points

#1. Look wide but don't force it wide, if it's not there, keep possession.

#2. Try not to use 2 touches on the outside, have your head up on the reception and see if you can one time it in or need the 2nd touch.

#3. The ball does not have to be crossed, sometimes it's better to find a set pass instead or simply to bring the ball back to keep possession

#4. Decide the weight and position of the pass, a cross does not have to be high or back post to be effective.

#5. Players in the field of play must time their runs according to the cross, don't be in the box waiting for the cross and then have no momentum to make a solid attack at net.