Set Up
Split your players into 2 teams and Create a 10×10 or 15×15 playing area.
Inside put 3 of each team. On the perimeter on alternating sidelines, add a support player. The team with the ball inside must play keep away and move the ball from one side of the field to the other, using their support players. If the other team gets the ball from a turnover, now they play keep away with the same rules.
*Support players cannot throw to opposite support players
Play for 1-2 minutes, and see which team gets the most support player passes to make it a competition.
Coaching Points & Principles
Progressions
- Shrink field to make it harder
- put 4v4 inside
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- We want to try and move the ball from 1 side of the field to the other, when playing vs pressure. The goal is for players to move the ball from 1 side of the field to the other to maintain possession
- Defense pressure ball, all even, no advantages
- Offense must maintain good spacing and move to space to make or receive a pass
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A fun groundball drill that works on ground balls, recognition and teamwork
Set Up
Put players in 4 lines on the sideline, and give each player/line a number. Coach rolls a ball out and it’s a live 1v1v1v1 groundball. Once a player wins it, coach will yell out a second number, and that player will now be a teammate to the player who won the ground ball. They will play 2v2 to the goal
Coaching Points and Principles
Progressions
- Add a 5th line, so it becomes a 3v2 unsettled
- make a rule, that the defense must double team the ball!
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- Groundballs – win the battle!
- Recognition – think quickly if you are on offense or defense
- 2v2 game principles – Offense support teammate, move and give them space to dodge. DEFENSE , communicate and try to force player with ball away from goal.
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A fun small area game that focuses on transition play
Set up
Put your players into 2 teams, and create a small playing area. The teams will line up on opposite sidelines, coach throws a live ground ball in. 3 Players from each team go try to win the groundball. The team that wins, goes right to the goal they are attacking and play until goal/save/turnover. New ball comes in and the team on defense now attacks the other goal, until dead ball. Coach will give the original winning team 1 extra offensive rep, and they will transition and go try to score
Coaching Points & Principles |
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- Groundballs – Players should work on ground ball battles, boxing out and helping other teammates get the ball
- Transition – We want to play fast and try to get scoring opportunities in transition
- Defensive pressure – defense should pressure the ball and force the offense to move the ball
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A great small area game to work on playing in tight spaces and getting high % scoring opportunites
Set Up
Set up 3 players per team in the middle, with 1 offensive attack player stationed on each end. The result is a constant 4v3 situation. Team with the ball will play 4v3 until there is a dead ball or a turnover. At that point, the 3 offensive midfielder players leave the game, the the 3 defensive players transition to the other side of the field. While that’s play is happening, add in 3 new defensive players on the original side, and wait for transition to come back. Midfielders will play Defense, then Offense, and then OUT!
Coaching Points & Principles
Progressions
- Let the team who just played offense RIDE, but tell the last person who took the shot, to leave the game
- Make field smaller for younger players
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- Players must read the game quickly, push the pace, and capitalize on the numbers advantage to finish opportunities. The focus is on awareness, decision-making, and playing fast in tight spaces.
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