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Find the Third Player

U9–U10 · 60-minute practice

Explore and notice

Ready to start

10:00

Rest and transitions are included in each activity. Pause for additional breaks.

Next: Prepare the connector

See the next player before receiving.

Begin at walking pace in the numbered stations. Three players name starter, connector and next receiver, then point to the two clear passes between them. Share the ball when needed; an observer watches the same decision and takes a ball turn on the next assigned round.

s39-arrival24 × 30 m clear area with a 2 m perimeter buffer. 2 numbered stations, 8 numbered player slots, 2 balls and 8 cones. Each station shares one ball and rotates roles; dashed arrow shows an example travel or pass route. Focus: Reach a player behind a closed direct route using a visible middle connection. Diagram shows starting positions, not fixed player locations. Three steps show triangle move using the first round's numbered players. Solid gold routes show the ball; dashed pale routes show player movement; dotted blue routes show a shadow or defender. Routes stay inside each numbered station. 1. Show passing angles: Use the available players to show angles. 2. Pass and relocate: Move after the pass to reopen the triangle. 3. Connect the next side: Use the next angle, then look up again.Station 1Station 21357246824 × 30 m · 2 m perimeter bufferNumbered circle: player · small dot: ball · triangle: cone · dashed arrow: route1. Show passing anglescornercornercornercornergategategategateStation 1: #5: show the third-player window before the first passStation 1: To #3: first side of the triangleStation 2: #6: show the third-player window before the first passStation 2: To #4: first side of the triangle13572468Ball 1Ball 2Use the available players toshow angles.2. Pass and relocatecornercornercornercornergategategategateStation 1: #1: reopen the spare cornerStation 2: #2: reopen the spare corner13572468Ball 1Ball 2Move after the pass to reopenthe triangle.3. Connect the next sidecornercornercornercornergategategategateStation 1: To #5: connect the third angleStation 2: To #6: connect the third angle13572468Ball 1Ball 2Use the next angle, then lookup again.Solid gold: ball · dashed pale: player · dotted blue: shadow / defender

Player arrivals and departures

Use anonymous numbers from 1 to 99. Changes take effect before an activity begins; each activity needs 4–16 players.

    Record an observation and choose the next practice