Triangle passing drills are an excellent way to improve a player’s passing ability, positioning, and communication skills.
These drills are not only effective but also fun and challenging, which helps to keep players engaged and motivated.
In this article, you will learn how to effectively pass the ball in a triangular pattern with your teammates.
The drill is designed to be challenging and will require good communication, teamwork, and precision passing.
To begin, you will need a group of at least three players, cones to mark out the triangle, and a soccer ball.
Mark out a triangle with the cones, with each side of the triangle measuring around 5-10 yards. One player will start in each corner of the triangle, with the ball at the feet of one of the players.
Best Triangle Passing Drills (Opposed)
3v1 Drill
The 3v1 drill is a simple but effective way to practice triangle passing.
In this drill, three offensive players pass the ball amongst themselves while being defended by a single defender.
The objective is to make 5-15 passes without losing the ball.
To set up this drill, create a grid that is 10×10 yards in size, but you can adjust the size based on your preference.
It is important to find the right balance so that the drill is not too easy or too difficult.
If the attackers can make too many passes, the defender may lose motivation, whereas if they can only make a few passes, the attackers will not have enough practice.
Three ways to make the 3v1 drill more challenging:
- Limit the players to use only their strong or weak foot for passing, which forces them to work on their weaker side.
- Limit each player to only three touches of the ball, making them think and act faster.
- Limit each player to just one touch of the ball, which requires accuracy and good communication.
Possession Drill
The Possession drill is focused on creating triangle shapes while moving off the ball.
This drill can be played with five or eleven players on each team, and the objective is to keep possession of the ball while creating as many triangles as possible.
By doing so, players can learn how to create space, communicate effectively, and make accurate passes.
Best Triangle Passing Drills(Unopposed)
Not all drills require defenders to add pressure on the players. Sometimes, simple drills can be the most effective.
When playing soccer, it is important to support your teammates by moving off the ball and being prepared to receive the ball.
Players must be skilled at receiving the ball and then passing it in the opposite direction.
There are two best ways to receive and redirect a pass:
- Receive the ball with the inside of the back foot, take three steps, and pass with the opposite foot.
- Receive the ball with the inside of the back foot, take three steps, and pass with the same foot.
Practice these two techniques with either three players or two players and one rebounder.
Alternatively, you can practice alone with two walls or rebounders.
Different Types Of Triangle Passing In Soccer
The Simple Triangle Pass
If you want to practice your passing skills in soccer, you can try the simple triangle pass drill with at least two other players.
- Arrange yourselves in a triangular formation with each player occupying one point of the triangle.
- The objective of this drill is to pass the ball among your teammates in a triangular pattern.
- The player in possession of the ball should pass it to either the player on their left or right side (depending on their position).
- The second player then passes the ball to the third player in the triangle.
- The third player passes the ball back to the first player to complete the triangle.
- Continue the passing sequence for a specific duration or number of passes.
Repeat this passing pattern for a set duration of time or number of passes. If you want to make the drill more challenging, you can increase the speed of the passes or add more players to the triangle.
The Two-Touch Triangle Pass
If you’re looking to challenge yourself in soccer, you can try the two-touch triangle pass drill.
This is similar to the simple triangle pass drill but adds an extra touch to the passing sequence.
- Form a triangle with the players, with one player standing at each point of the triangle.
- The first player passes the ball to the second player.
- The second player takes two touches – the first touch to control the ball, and the second touch to set up their pass – before passing it to the third player.
- The third player also takes two touches before passing it back to the first player to complete the triangle.
- The passing sequence continues for a specific duration of time or until a certain number of passes have been made.
To increase the difficulty of this drill, you can speed up the passes or add more players to the triangle.
The Zigzag Triangle Pass
The zigzag triangle pass drill is an advanced passing exercise that requires players to move the ball in a zigzag pattern between themselves while standing in a triangle shape.
Here’s how to do it:
- Form a triangle with the players, with one person standing at each point of the triangle.
- The goal of the drill is for the players to pass the ball between each other in a zigzag pattern.
- The first player starts by passing the ball to the second player.
- The second player then passes the ball diagonally to the third player.
- The third player then passes it back to the first player, who passes it diagonally to the third player, and so on.
- The passing sequence continues for a set amount of time or until a certain number of passes have been made.
The One-Touch Triangle Pass
The one-touch triangle pass drill is a challenging passing drill that requires players to move the ball quickly between the players in the triangle.
To perform the one-touch triangle passing drill, follow these steps:
- Form a triangle with the players, with one player occupying each point of the triangle.
- The objective of this drill is for the players to pass the ball between themselves using only one touch.
- The first player passes the ball to the second player, who then passes it on to the third player using only one touch.
- The third player passes the ball back to the first player using only one touch to complete the triangle.
- Repeat the passing sequence for a specific duration of time or until a certain number of passes have been made.
The Continuous Triangle Pass:
The continuous triangle pass drill is a challenging passing drill that requires players to move the ball quickly between the players in the triangle while also moving around the field.
Here is how:
- Form a triangle with the players, with each player occupying one point of the triangle.
- The objective of this drill is for the players to pass the ball continuously while moving around the field.
- The first player passes the ball to the second player, who then passes it on to the third player.
- The third player then passes it back to the first player, who passes it to the second player again, and so on.
- Players should move around the field while passing the ball to simulate game-like conditions.
- Continue the passing sequence for a set duration of time or number of passes
You can make this drill more challenging by making the passes faster, adding more players to the triangular formation, or increasing the distance between them.
The continuous triangle passing drill is great for enhancing your passing accuracy, improving communication with your teammates, and developing better overall ball control skills.
Transforming Triangle Into Diamond (“Barcelona triangle” )
Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona is renowned for its distinctive passing style, known as the “Barcelona triangle.”
This style involves a combination of short passes, quick movements, and precise positioning to create triangles on the field that allow the team to maintain possession and move the ball forward.
The three players in the triangle work together to move the ball around the field and create scoring opportunities.
This passing style requires excellent technical skills, quick thinking, and an understanding of how to work with teammates.
One of the most famous examples of the Barcelona triangle was the midfield trio of Xavi, Iniesta, and Busquets.
These three players were the engine of the team, constantly moving and passing the ball to create opportunities. They would often use small, intricate passes to maintain possession and move the ball up the field.
Here’s an example.
Xavi would receive the ball in midfield and quickly pass it to Iniesta, who would then make a quick turn and pass it back to Xavi. Busquets would be positioned nearby, ready to receive the ball if either Xavi or Iniesta were under pressure.
This type of quick passing and movement would create a triangle on the field, allowing the team to maintain possession and move the ball forward.
How & When To Teach Triangle Pass To Youth Soccer Players?
The triangle pass is an important skill for youth soccer players to learn as it promotes good spacing and ball movement on the field.
Here are some tips on how and when to teach the triangle pass to youth soccer players:
Start with the basics
Before teaching the triangle pass, ensure that your players have a good understanding of passing technique, footwork, and body positioning.
Once they have mastered the basics, they will be better equipped to learn more advanced passing techniques like the triangle pass.
Emphasize the importance of spacing
The triangle pass relies on players creating and maintaining good spacing on the field. Make sure your players understand the importance of spacing and how it affects their ability to make successful passes.
Demonstrate the triangle pass
Show your players how the triangle pass works by demonstrating it yourself or using video examples.
Make sure to explain the technique, including how to position your body and where to aim the pass.
Use drills to practice
Include triangle pass drills in your training sessions to give players plenty of opportunities to practice the technique.
Start with simple drills that involve two or three players, and gradually progress to more complex drills that involve larger groups of players.
Encourage them to repeat it
Like any other skill, the triangle pass requires practice and repetition to master.
Encourage them to practice the technique regularly, both during training sessions and on their own time.
When it comes to teaching the triangle pass to youth soccer players, it’s important to take a patient and supportive approach.
We should know that not all players will master the technique right away, so be prepared to offer guidance and encouragement along the way.
With practice and persistence, youth players will eventually develop the skills they need to make successful triangle passes on the field.
Final Whistle- Triangle Passing Drills
Triangle passing drills can be helpful for players to improve their passing, receiving, and support abilities, especially when they need to navigate in tight areas.
These drills stress the importance of using short, precise touches and pass to avoid opponents. It also encourages teamwork and awareness of the players’ positions, which helps them identify favorable spots on the field.
