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Free activities · By topicTiming of runs drills
5 free, with video
Forward play lives or dies on timing: the run that goes a second early is offside or too soon, the one that goes a second late is covered. These drills build the instinct for when.
What it means
Every good forward run has a trigger: the passer’s touch, a pass into a teammate’s feet, the moment the passer’s head comes up. Once a player knows the trigger, they stop guessing.
The habit behind it is Forward When It’s On, and it takes two people. The runner has to go on the trigger, and the passer has to play the ball where the runner is going to be. Neither one can do it alone, so these drills always coach the pair.
What to coach
- Run on the touch, not on the pass.
- Start on the shoulder of the last defender.
- Go when the passer’s head comes up.
- Passer: play early. A ball played late is offside.
The ladder
Every theme in 100 Possession Activities climbs the same way. Rungs 1 to 3 are rondos for the start of a session. Rungs 4 to 7 are the middle: direction, goals, decisions. Rungs 8 to 10 are games with one rule. These are free:
Rung 1 · 2 + mini goalRun on the TouchA passer and a runner on a 20x15 with a mini goal.
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Rung 2 · 3v1Run and ThroughPass into the target, run on the pass, finish the lay-off.
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Rung 3 · 5v2 to goalTiming RondoAfter four passes, one attacker breaks out toward goal.
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Rung 4 · 4v3+GKBeat the Offside LineRun behind the line on the pass, never before. Offside is called strictly.
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Rung 5 · 6v4Forward or KeepEvery forward pass past a defender scores. Going back is free.
Open the activity ›Rungs 6 to 10 are in the book
- 6Late Runs Into the Box5v4+GK · 12 players
- 7Two Runs3v2 · 10 players
- 8Timing in the Phase7v6+GK · 14 players
- 9Runs From Deep6v5+GK · 13 players
- 10Timing Game9v9 · 18 players
Build a session from it
One idea, start to finish. Change the topic next week and keep the rondo.
- Start, 10 min: Timing Rondo
- Middle, 20 min: Beat the Offside Line
- Middle, 20 min: Forward or Keep
- Finish, 25 min or more: Play your normal game with an offside line, called strictly.
Keep going
Questions about timing of runs
How do you teach the timing of runs in soccer?
Give the runner a clear trigger. In Run on the Touch they go on the passer’s first touch. In Run and Through they go when the ball goes into the target. In Beat the Offside Line they go when the passer’s head comes up.
How do I stop my forwards getting caught offside?
Have them watch the passer, not just the defender. Start on the shoulder of the last defender and go when the passer’s head comes up. Beat the Offside Line calls offside strictly, so the player finds out right away.
What is a third-man run?
Three players are involved. One passes into a teammate’s feet, a third player runs on that pass, and the teammate lays it into the runner’s path. Run and Through teaches it with one defender.
Or pick by number of players
Rungs 6 to 10 of this ladder are in the book
100 Possession Activities has all ten rungs of every theme, right up to the full game that keeps the idea alive. 115 pages and 100 animated videos, one activity per page. Print the page, watch the clip, run the session.