Receive between the lines
Transcript
Find the gap between the lines, and you can turn and play forward. Here's how. You need a partner, a ball and six cones. Four make an eight metre square, two lines of defenders. Two make a gate, four metres beyond. Watch. Move into the gap, check the gate, and open up. Take the pass on your back foot, turn, and play through the gate. First, find the gap between the cones. Then, back foot, face forward. Not this, waiting in front of the cones. Our target is three sets of eight, one minute rest, then swap roles. Then take the free test at footballreach.com.
What it trains
Receive between the lines: move into the gap between two lines of defenders, take the pass on your back foot with your body open, then turn and play forward. FIFA coaches this for midfielders and attacking midfielders.
Set up
- A partner and a ball
- 6 cones
- 4 in an 8 m square
- A gate, 4 m beyond
How it works
- Set 4 cones in an 8 m square: two lines of two defenders. Set a 3 m gate (2 cones) 4 m beyond the far side. Your partner stands with the ball about 6 m in front of the square.
- Start in front of the near cones. As your partner gets ready, move into the gap between the lines and check over your shoulder.
- Open up side-on, take the pass on your back foot and turn with that touch to face the gate.
- Pass through the gate, fetch the ball and go again. Open up to your left on one rep and to your right on the next.
- Do 3 sets of 8 receives with 1 minute rest between, then swap roles.
Coaching points
- Find the gap between cones. Move into the space between the two lines as your partner gets ready, and check over your shoulder so you know where the gate is before the ball arrives.
- Back foot, face forward. Stand side-on, let the ball run across you onto your back foot (the one further from your partner) and turn with that touch to face the gate.
Not this
Waiting in front of the near cones, facing your partner. FIFA calls receiving in front of defenders with a closed body shape bad practice: from there it is hard to play forward.
Dose
- 3 sets of 8 receives
- 1 min rest, then swap
Our target: 3 sets of 8 receives, 1 minute rest between, then swap roles (the Football Reach target, not an FA or FIFA rule).
Harder / Easier
Harder
Replace one cone with a third player as a defender who can only shuffle along their line to block the pass (no tackles): find the gap on their shoulder. Or pass through the gate with your second touch.
Easier
Stop the ball first, then turn, until opening up feels natural. Or make the square bigger and ask for softer passes.
Safety
- Flat, dry ground with space around the square, never a road or a driveway.
- Keep the gate area clear of people while you pass.
- Passes along the ground only, firm but controlled.
Sources
Not sure which skill to work on first? The free Football Reach test gives you a Player Development Score and shows which of the four corners of your game to work on next, in about two minutes.
Take the free test
