Purpose: To develop accuracy with the long pass.

Procedure: The animation shows Attacker 2, who is making a diagonal run toward the flank corridor. Defender 1 is not in a good marking position--Attacker 2 has outrun Defender 1 by a couple of steps. In this situation Attacker 1 will play a long pass that is coming down in front of and beyond Attacker 2. This pass allows Attacker 2 to keep his or her advantage on the defender because he or she can continue sprinting to receive the pass. Technically, this pass should be a driven ball with a low trajectory and the slightest bend. A right-footed right back will naturally have a slight infield bend, but this should not be exaggerated, because the back wants the ball to arrive beyond Attacker 2 while he or she is still sprinting and has a couple of steps on Defender 1. A pronounced bend or high trajectory adds time of flight to the ball, which allows the defender to catch up.

Coaching Points: This exercise can be modified or developed by adding another striker and marker at the halfway line or changing the number of attackers and defenders in the back third. The coach must remember that the objective of the exercise is many repetitions of a long pass. In the middle third attackers need to play balls to teammates running away from the ball in three tactical applications. 

For drill animation, CLICK HERE.