2 player core football moves

3 mins - Aug 22, 2023

Pass and follow

Diagonal pass, straight run
Straight pass, diagonal run
Overlap
Takeover
What next?

Wall pass

This one-two pass is simple but effective.

Player A passes to player B, then runs around their opponent and into space to receive. For this to work
effectively, player A needs to let the defender get close before passing.

They then have to move quickly to get the ball back. Player B must be in a good position to play a first-time
pass back to their teammate.
Pass and follow

This move is exactly how it sounds. Player A passes to player B then follows the pass and receives the ball
back.

To carry out this move, player A needs to slow down on the ball and entice the defender to get close. Then, they
can pass the ball to their teammate and quickly move towards them. They may have to change speed or
direction at some point to lose the defender.

Meanwhile, player B should pick up a good position and play a soft pass back to player A.

Diagonal pass, straight run

Here, player B makes a straight run behind a defender. Player A then plays a diagonal pass – in this case, a
through-ball between two defenders – to player B who’s in behind their opponent.
For this one, player A needs to keep close control of the ball and provide a suitably weighted pass into space for
their teammate to run onto.

Player B needs to make their run when the defender focuses on the ball and time it right so they arrive into
space as the ball is played into their path.

Straight pass, diagonal run

This is the opposite of the previous move. Player B makes a diagonal run behind a defender – player D – to
receive a straight pass from their teammate.

Again, player A needs to keep close control of the ball to play the pass into space at any moment.

Player B has to make their run behind player D when the defender goes to block the simple pass towards them.
Again, they need to time their run so they arrive into space as the ball is played into their path.
Overlap

The overlap involves the passer running around the outside of the receiver.

In the scenario above, player A is being closed down by a defender – player D. While player B is closely
marked by another defender – player E.

Player A passes into the feet of player B, then makes their move past player D and player B. This creates a 2v1
overload in their favour. Player E now has two attackers to deal with.

To use this move successfully, player A has to pass the ball in a way that is easy for player B to control it.

Player B needs to secure the ball, stay on it to attract the defender and give their teammate the time to make an
overlap.

Takeover
For this core move, player B simply runs towards player A and takes the ball off them. To make this work, the
following needs to happen:

 Player A protects the ball.

 They shield it by moving the ball with the foot furthest away from the defender.
 When the time is right, player A stops the ball to allow player B to take it.
 Player B runs around the back of player A and takes the ball at the right time.
 When they have it, they run into space.
 If an opponent follows player B, they can always fake the takeover by allowing player A to stay on the
ball.