This drill teaches players how to play precise defense-splitting passes like Xavi. The drill involves a defender dribbling around cones to pick up the ball and drive at defenders before passing to an attacker in the end zone, who must knock a ball off a cone with a pass without shooting. Recreating pressure situations helps players perfect the ability to pick up the ball, drive, and play a killer pass at speed to break down defenses. The drill is designed to help players reproduce these skills in matches.

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PLAY LIKE PRECISION
PASS WITH XAVI’S
SPAIN
Your team may not have Xavi himself, but FFT can teach you how to rack up the assists.
Here, we show you how to burst clear of the midfield pack and play a defence-splitting pass
XAVI’S
PASSING
B1
Drill No.2
A1
Central Zone End Zone
4 yds
24 yds
SET UP ACTION HOW IT HELPS
Mark out a 24 x 18-yard grid, comprising A defender (A1) dribbles from In the final third Xavi has the
a 20 x 18-yard central zone and his starting position past the ability to pick up the ball,
a 4 x 18-yard end zone. Place three first of the two cones, drive at the defence and
cones, with balls on them, five yards stops the ball for the play a killer pass at speed.
apart inside the end zone. At the attacker (B1) before the This drill is designed to
opposite end set up two cones, six yards second, then sprints around the recreate this situation
apart. Divide the players up into second cone and chases B1, so you can perfect it and EVEN MORE ONLINE
defenders and attackers. Line the who has collected the ball and is reproduce it in a game.
attackers up at the end opposing the running towards the end zone. B1 Want to learn more from the pros?
end zone. Line the defenders up to the must try to knock a ball off one of Get online for exclusive interviews as
right of the attackers, on the sideline. the cones with a pass, but they’re the game’s stars give their guidance,
not allowed to shoot plus more drills from the experts.
inside the end zone. http://performance.fourfourtwo.com