Technical Circuit of Passing, Dribbling, and Shooting

Exercise used by Pep Guardiola during a training session at Manchester City, it is ideal for working on different aspects: passing quality, off-the-ball runs to create space, and finally shooting.

Set up a technical circuit within a rectangle with a goal located at the end of the circuit. You will need cones, hurdles, and poles. Position your players as shown in the diagram, with one player at each station (you can double each station depending on the number of players you have).

The ball starts from the coach who plays a short pass to the first player (A). A will then start dribbling for 2/3 meters, while the following players (B and C) will make an off-the-ball run towards player A to request the ball. The first player will then make a firm pass to C, while B will quickly sprint in the opposite direction.

Once the pass is made, player A will then go over the hurdles on his left. Meanwhile, the player who just received the ball (C) will play a short pass to E, who will have made a prior run. Meanwhile, the last player in the circuit (D) performs a slalom run without the ball through the poles, before receiving the through ball from E. He will then play the 1v1 with the goalkeeper.

Each player moves up one station in the drill for the next round.

Variation

You can also propose a variation by replacing the pass from A to C with a pass to B, who will then play to C. The rest of the sequence remains the same.

In this type of exercise, you should emphasize concentration and involvement in the drill. Some stations make runs without necessarily touching the ball, which is why you need to ensure these players work in the right way.

Some practical tips:

Ask the player who makes the last layoff pass to follow the shooter well to play the second ball.
The 2nd player (B) must exaggerate his run towards the inside before sprinting to the gate. He does not touch the ball, but his role is just as important.