Objective:

Organization

• Group of 10 whenever possible.

• Split into two teams of 5.

• 15 x 15 yards area.

• 5 vs. 2 with other defenders waiting their turn.

• The “five” attempt to keep possession from 2.

• As soon as the “five” make a mistake and lose the ball the two defenders change and the coach rolls in another ball.

• Defenders can change “on the fly” if the “five” are doing well and the defenders are getting tired.

• Coach keeps the time on the stopwatch and calls time out after 4 mistakes.

• Then the other five try to keep the ball for longer than their opponents.

• Coach keeps supply of balls to help continuity.

• If the players are finding the 5 vs. 2 difficult consider making it 6 vs. 2 and increasing the space.

• If they are finding it easy, decrease the space.

 

Teaching

• Tell players "off the ball" to work continually at making good passing angles for players with ball.

• Encourage use of space available by spreading out.

• Requires good passing techniques, pace of the pass and good "first touch."

• Make sure players "on the ball" are prepared to hold it and screen away from opponents if players "off the ball" are not available.

• Two defenders must work off one another.

• When the defenders win the ball make sure it is kicked out of play otherwise it does not count as a “mistake” if an attacker gets the ball back.

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Progressions

• If they are having trouble maintaining possession, make the area bigger or go to 6 v 2.

• The 5 v 2 is progressed to 5 v 2 Tennis.

• If they can handle the 5 v 2 Tennis, allow one of the defending players to go into the square where the ball is being received to make it more difficult to make a successful pass across the No-Man’s Land.

• Or, have one of the defending team in the No-Man’s Land trying to intercept the ball passed across the squares.

• And a combination of 3 and 4.