Recommended Practices
Unopposed Practices
1v1 Practices
Overloaded Practices
1v1s > 2v1s > 2v2s
Two separate 1v1s are played out simultaneously by team 1 players starting by either side of the goal, playing to their opponent on the opposite side who attack into the goal.
Defending players aim to score in the target goals if they win the ball. If then one of the 1v1s concludes, these players join the other 1v1 to make a 2v2.
Once that concludes, one of the players from the defending team has to sprint around a target goal while the coach throws in a third ball to the attacking team who have a few seconds to try and exploit the 2v1 overload before the recovering defender gets back into position.
Once that go has played out, all players join the back of their queues.
Four teams each start in a different corner of the pitch. Alternate which team starts the 2v2 practice.
Player from starting team ‘nudges’ the ball onto the pitch and passes to any of the other 3 teams forming an ‘attacking partnership’, who have to score in the opposite goal to the player receiving the ball. The two players from the other teams become defenders and this becomes a directional 2v2 game.
Each team get to start the attacks for a period of time or set number of goes. If you use a visual, interactive score board such as collecting a cone after a goal, it makes the game more interesting as the starting team will become tactical about who they invite to attack with them.
Organisation
Two teams line up on the halfway mark on opposite sides of the pitch.
Two attackers start in their own half and break over the half way line to attack 1 defender waiting in the own half. At the moment the ball crosses the halfway line, a second defender runs around the the centre spot in the middle of the pitch and recovers to defend, creating a 2v2. A player from the attacking team also enters the pitch going to their own half ready to defend the next go when the other team attacks. Once this plays out, the defenders then become the attackers the previous attackers leave the game. The coach plays in a new ball and the new attacking team drive over the halfway line and the practice repeats itself.
Progressions
• Make the game transitional so if the defenders win the ball they try to break out under pressure from the two previous attackers who are now defending.
• Adjust the point where the recovering defender has to run around. Making the distance longer or shorter.
Making the Practice Competitive
Very easy to make competitive. Keep the score and play to a set time. Play first to a set number of goals.
Possession Practices
A large square divided into four squares + 1 small area in the middle.
The defending team wait in the small, middle area, while the other two teams alternate possession of the ball in one of the squares. The team in possession completes a number of passes inside a square with one of the defenders trying to win the ball back before switching the play to a player from the other team who are spread out in the other squares. As the player receives the ball, their team mates sprint in to the square to support them. A new defender enters to close them down. The team that just completed the passes in the square spread out accross the other three squares.
Give each team an equal amount of defending time to defend before rotating teams or rotate them after they’ve won the ball X number of times (between 4 and 6 recommended).
Progressions:
• Increase/decrease the number of passes to complete in each square.
• Add a second defender to close down in the square after a ‘number’ of passes.
• Make the game transitional where the team losing possession become the defending team instantly.
Making the Practice Competitive:
• The team that wins the ball back during their turn defending the most, wins.
• The team with the most successful ‘switches’ into the other squares wins.
Organisation:
Divide the pitch in to three zones;
Attacking teams occupy an end zone each and are allowed to play in the middle zone but not the opposite end zone. Defending team occupy the middle zone and one player can break out to close down either attacking team when they have the ball in their end zone.
An attacking team must complete a minimum x no. of passes (4-6 recommended) within their end zone and then pass into the middle zone where players from either attacking team can receive the ball under pressure from the waiting defenders. to transfer it to the other end zone for the other team to complete x no. of passes. The idea is to build up patiently and for players then to practice playing between the lines to receive and pass forward. Techniques such as receiving on the half turn or ‘a set for another to pass forward’ should be encouraged.
Either rotate the defending team after they’ve won the ball back x no of times (4-6 recommended). Or give each team a set amount of time to defend (2-3 mins recommended) before rotating.
Progressions:
• More or less passes in either end zone
• Touch restrictions
• Allowing a second defender into the end zone after half of the passes required.
• Allowing a second defender into in the end zone from the moment the ball enters.
• Make the game transitional where the waiting attacking team receive the ball from the defending team or a new ball from the coach if the previous ball went out of play and the team that lost it sprint to do their defending roles.
Making the Practice Competitive:
Make it a defensive competition; time how long it takes the defending team to win it back the set amount of times, team that wins it back the quickest wins. The team that wins the ball back most in the set amount of time wins. This will encourage the attacking teams to not lose the ball.
Or
Make it a progression competition where each time a team successfully passes into the middle zone they get a point.
Or a combination of both.