Set Up
Create a playing area on one half of the field area. Add a second goal at the midfield line. There will be 4 clearing players and 3 riding playing during every rep. In general, we want the clearing team to be primarily defenders and short stick defensive midfielders, and the riders being Attack and Midfield players. The game starts with coach rolling a live ground ball in the defensive corner, which should be contested with a rider. The clearing team, must try to get the ball upfield to score in 20 seconds once they gain possession. This drill we want to focus on our riding and clearing principles. if the riding team intercepts or forces a turnover, they can try to score.
Coaching Points and Principles
- Clearing Team
- We have a player advantage, spread out and find open space
- Find good passes and passing lanes, don’t force tough passes
- Stay moving, don’t stand still off ball
- Riding Team
- We are player down, we want to pressure ball and play a backside zone type
- Dont try and take ball away, square up, turn players back from running upfield, and try to force bad passes
- HUSTLE! This is a conditioning type drill
Progressions
- Make 5v4 or 6v5
- Set up specific clearing spots wether you play ladder or stack type clear
- Shorten shot clock to 15 seconds to make it more challenging
- Instead of a Goal for the clearing team, create gates using cones they must clear the ball through
