Breaking Ball Combination Drill
A quick 1-2 at the center stick, then the runner spins around it and the breaking ball arrives in stride — a pass and a run learning to agree, over and over.
The breaking ball and the run have to arrive together — this builds the connection between passer and runner that breaks down defenses in games.
Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive
- Grab: Three practice sticks — or mannequins — two cones, and a ball for every player in the lines.
- Build: Stand the three sticks in a straight line, 4 to 5 yards apart, and place a cone 7 to 10 yards from the center stick on each side.
- Place: A combination player on each side of the center stick, everyone else split evenly between the two cones with a ball each — twelve or more players, build a second identical setup to maximize touches.
Show me the setup picture
One thing to remember: Playing accurate breaking balls into space with the right weight, timing runs off a quick 1-2, accelerating at game speed, opening the body to receive on the correct foot, and calling for the ball.
How it runs — the whole game in one sentence
Pass into the middle, take the one-touch return, and slide the breaking ball between the sticks for your partner's run — they collect it in stride and play across to the far cone.
1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Put a combination player on each side of the center stick and split the rest evenly between the two cones, every player there with a ball.
Coach says
Two lines at the cones, ball each. You two — you live at the middle stick for now.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Walk one repetition — Player 1 at the cone passes to Player 2 near the center stick, firm and to feet; Player 2 plays a one-touch return, and the moment it's away they sprint around the outside of the left stick; Player 1 plays the breaking ball between the left and center sticks into the space, and Player 2 receives it on the run and passes across to the player at the opposite cone. Then rotate — Player 1 moves to the center, Player 2 to the back of the opposite line.
Coach says
Give-and-go — the second you lay it off, you're running. And the pass goes into the space, not at your feet.
3Play▾
Coach does
Run both sides at the same time, with every run going left to start. Watch the timing — the run starts the moment the return pass is played, never before; the breaking ball weighted so it's collected in stride, aimed into the space between the sticks rather than at the runner; runs accelerating at game speed; bodies open to receive on the correct foot for the direction; and a simple call for the ball to help the timing.
Coach says
Game-speed runs — accelerate! Passers, into the space — let the run meet the ball!
Look for: The timing of the run — moving the moment the return pass is struck, not before it.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
After several repetitions, switch the pattern so the runs go around the right stick instead. For later rounds, add a passive defender between the sticks so the passer must disguise the ball, have the runner finish on a small goal, name the final pass — driven, chipped, or outside of the foot — add a fake run before the cut, spread the sticks for longer breaking balls, count combinations in 60 seconds, or cap the runner at two touches.
Coach says
Switch it — runs go right now! Same timing, new side.
If it's not working
If both sides going at once falls apart, run one side at a time until they understand the pattern — then turn the second side back on.
Want to go deeper? Optional — not needed to run the game.
Why are we doing this?
What are they learning?
How can I change it?
Harder: Increase the distance between the sticks as players improve — longer breaking balls.