6v6 (+2) possession game with play through the central zone

Ideal exercise for working like teams such as Liverpool or Manchester City. A short passing game followed by a through ball into a central area, followed by a new phase of possession. The quality of the 2 neutral players is crucial if you want to give rhythm to this exercise.

The goal of the team in possession is to pass the ball to the advanced neutral player inside the semicircle who plays a pass, one-touch if possible, to the neutral player on the other side of the circle, so that the latter can play it into the new zone.

Here is the exercise sequence (refer to the animation for a better view):

Initially, players play a 3 vs 3 (+ 2 neutral players in the central zone) in their half of the field.
After a minimum of 3 to 5 passes, players can switch to the other side using the neutral players in the circle zone with a one-touch passing sequence if possible. The neutral players are untouchable.
Then, the ball must be passed to a player from the same team inside the other half of the field.
If the defending team wins the ball, they continue the exercise by playing with the neutral players, in the same way.

Here are some tips to effectively run this drill:

You can set up a small competition, for example: the team that successfully completes the most switches of play in 4-5 minutes wins the exercise.
Emphasize the importance of being aware of what's happening around you and therefore, keeping your head up. Ball retention relies on this aspect.
With limited space, the precision and speed of passes and controls must be impeccable. Well, it's easier said than done!