Triangle Combination Passing Drill
Around a small triangle, every pass is a give-and-go — play it in, get it back, open up around the cone, and move it on to the next player.
In a small area the pass is everything — its pace, its angle, its weight — and the runs before and after it are what turn passes into one-twos.
10 min tonight · 3 per triangle — build several
- Ages 9+
- 3 per triangle — build several
- 10 min as the drill is written
- Cones
Grab Cones — three per triangle — and one ball per triangle.
Build Create a triangle about 10 yards a side, and create multiple triangles according to the number of players you have.
Place A player on each cone, about 2 yards outside the triangle. Extra players can wait at the starting position and rotate through each cone — just don't let anyone stand in line too long.
- 1
Organize the players
Put a player on each cone, standing about 2 yards outside the triangle, with one ball per triangle. Stack any extra players at the starting position to rotate through each cone and back to the line.
“One of you on each cone, a couple steps outside it. One ball per triangle.”
- 2
Show the jobs
Walk the loop — player 1 passes to player 2 on the outside of the cone; player 2 returns it to player 1, then opens up and receives player 1's pass on the opposite side of the cone. Player 2 now plays to player 3 on the outside of the cone, and the play continues around the three cones.
“Give it, get it back, then open up around your cone — the next pass finds you on the other side.”
- 3
Play
Keep the ball moving around the triangle and coach the details — the pace, angle, and weight of every pass, the timing of the runs before and after it, the one-twos, and good fluid movement with the body under control.
“Right pace, right angle! Time your run — before the pass and after it.”
Look for The one-two — a pass, a return, and a player already opening up around the cone to receive on the other side.
- 4
Switch and repeat
Rotate any waiting players through the cones and back to the line. Then switch the direction of the play to focus on different angles of passing.
“Switch it — other way around! New angles.”
If players are standing in line too long, build another triangle — split the group until the waiting disappears.
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Why it works
A 10-yard triangle strips passing to its parts — pace, angle, and weight, with a run before and after every ball — and the continuous loop keeps the one-twos coming with the body under control the whole way.
What they learn
Combination play in a small area — the pace, angle, and weight of the pass, the timing of runs before and after it, one-twos, and good fluid movement keeping the body under control.
Where does this come from?
SoccerXpert — their published drill library.
A published drill library. Useful and widely used, but not a governing body — so it fills gaps rather than leading.