Open a route by taking a teammate’s place
Coordinate one receiver leaving a space with another entering it, keeping two different passing options instead of crowding the same lane.
Check the problem
Both off-ball players run toward the same attractive passing window. The carrier sees two teammates but only one route, and they may meet in the same space. Telling everyone to keep moving can increase the crowding. Give the movements an order: leave, check, then fill.
Set up the space and roles
Reserve at least a 28 × 28 m clear rectangle for the complete session, rearranging cones between stages. Initially mark two 10 × 12 m stations with four corner cones each. Four additional cones per station show two broad receiving pockets, not standing positions. Keep 4 m between stations and 2 m outside, a 28 × 16 m footprint. The later 20 × 24 m game needs 24 × 28 m including its buffer. Trio 1/2/3 and trio 4/5/6 each use one ball inside separate stations.
Keep the rotation clear
Each trio rotates all three rehearsal roles after every attempt; round starters cycle through its three players. In the game, all three take a first restart across the rounds and share all positions during play. There is no permanent wide player or observer.
See the practice in three steps
Schematic views, not to scale. Player numbers match the roles below. Dark arrows show passes, dashed green arrows show movement and solid green arrows show carries. Use the written dimensions when marking your area.
1. Start with two separate pockets
2. Leave, check, then fill
3. Exchange a useful space in 3v3
Your complete 30-minute plan
Briefing, planned role changes, water and reflection are included. Add rest or stop when needed; shorten active play rather than rushing a transition.
00:00–03:00 · 3 min
Check, explain and walk the layout
With no ball moving, 1 faces receivers 2 and 3 in different pockets. Player 2 leaves the right pocket along its outside edge to offer a shorter option. Player 3 checks that it is clear, then travels across to the vacated pocket. They use separate routes and stay at least 2 m apart. Reverse the demonstration.
03:00–08:00 · 5 min
Prepare the movement
Use gentle ground passes to whichever receiver is available. After each attempt, stop the ball and rotate carrier → departing receiver → arriving receiver. The carrier waits if both receivers enter the same space. Walk the pattern in both directions; there is no race, fixed pass sequence or reward for filling a pocket unnecessarily.
08:00–17:00 · 9 min
Focused practice and role changes
Use three rounds of 2 minutes 40 seconds plus 20 seconds of rest. Start each round with a different carrier. One receiver chooses to leave their pocket; the other may fill it after checking both the teammate’s route and the ball. The departing receiver remains available at a new angle rather than disappearing behind the carrier. Count one shared point when the carrier can point to two distinct passing routes and completes a controlled pass through either. Reset after a ball out and rebuild separated positions.
17:00–19:00 · 2 min
Water and reset
Pause for water and check the surface and clear buffers. Prepare the 20 × 24 m game pitch with 2 m clear outside; move the spare ball outside that buffer. Extra rest takes priority; shorten the next playing block if needed.
19:00–28:00 · 9 min
Use it in a game
Use the water break to make a 20 × 24 m pitch with a clear 2 m perimeter. Put the spare ball outside that buffer. Play 1/2/3 against 4/5/6 for three rounds of 2 minutes 40 seconds plus 20-second pauses. Score one point for a controlled carry across the far end line. Pockets are no longer marked: players choose when exchanging a receiving space helps. After a score or ball out, the other team restarts at its own end with opponents 3 m back. Defenders intercept ground passes, keep 1 m from carriers and stay clear of runners’ paths; no foot or body tackles.
28:00–30:00 · 2 min
Reflect and choose the next step
Ask which teammate’s movement made the next space available. If both chased the same window, repeat the walk-through and let the ball wait.
Watch for a useful change
- The second receiver checks that the space has been vacated.
- Teammates use separate routes and retain a clear gap.
- The carrier still has two different options after the exchange.
Make it easier
Hold the ball still until both receivers finish walking. Make the pockets larger and mark their separate travel routes verbally.
When ready
Let the carrier use the shorter departing receiver instead of the newly filled pocket. Receivers adapt to that choice rather than completing a memorised pattern.
Ask which teammate’s movement made the next space available. If both chased the same window, repeat the walk-through and let the ball wait.
If conditions change
Stop active play when the surface, weather or available clear space is unsuitable. Use an indoor area only if it can hold the full written footprint and buffers. Otherwise keep the ball still, walk through the roles without pressure, and reschedule the live game. Extra rest takes priority over finishing the timetable.
Original Session Pitch practice. Open this file from the extracted folder with its three maps and stylesheet. Use your browser’s Print command to save a PDF. Field effectiveness has not been evaluated.