A progression off the traditional spoke passing drill, adding defense
Set Up
Put your players In groups of 8 or 10, and set up 4 lines all right next to each other, in the shape of a + sign. Start with 1 ball in 1 line. The first player in line must carry with the 2nd player defending as the trailer. The defender will shade one side, and the offense must roll to space and adjacent line teammate must pop out to support. Connect a pass to the outside so the trail defenders can intercept the pass, and continue until you get all the way around the circle. Reset and start a ground ball with a new line
Coaching Points & Principles |
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- Escapes – Feeling the open Space
- Off Ball Play – Adjacent teammates must recognize if their teammate curls to them and pop out for support
- Passing – Pass the ball to the outside to prevent defensive knock downs
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This full-field, continuous drill gives both sides of the ball live reps within your team’s clearing and riding systems. Start with the goalie and clearing unit working through your Ladder Clear (Or another system if that’s what you prefer), while the riding team applies your core riding principles at full speed. Once the clearing team successfully crosses the midfield line and establishes an offensive possession, the coach blows the whistle to create a dead-ball situation. The ball immediately starts going the opposite direction, with the units transitioning into their new riding and clearing responsibilities. There are no shots or goals unless the coach calls for live offense—the emphasis is on clearing, riding, communication, decision-making, and getting organized in transition.
The drill can easily be adjusted to prepare for specific opponents or reinforce different concepts. Have your clearing group work against different looks such as a 10-man ride, zone ride, or aggressive pressure, or challenge your riding unit against stack clears, traditional ladder clears, or other opponent-specific formations. Coaches can also emphasize transition substitutions, forcing players to recognize when and where to sub without sacrificing field balance. Keeping the drill moving continuously creates realistic conditioning while giving players repeated opportunities to recognize, communicate, and solve full-field situations. |
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A great 1v1 drill that works on speed and development
Set Up
Put offense and defense in 4 corners around the field. It starts with 1 player making a V-Cut to get open, and receiving a pass from adjacent teammate. Once they catch, its a live 1v1 to the goal
Coaching Points & Principles
Progressions
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- Offense – Create Space my making V-Cuts to get open. Make 1 Hard move and Go!
- Defense – Pressure player on and off ball, force away from the middle of field
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A great small area game that works on moving the ball to opposite areas of the field to find quick scoring opportunities
Set Up
Split the field up in half, and put 4 offensive and 3 defensive players on the field. The offense starts with the ball, and must move the ball through X and play on the opposite side of the field. Once there is a dead ball, coach rolls a new ball in and the offense must move the ball back through X to the side they stared pin, and play until a dead ball
Coaching Points & Principles
Progressions
- Play all even
- Add in more constraints like emphasizes using picks
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- Move the ball quick!
- Work on finding space off ball
- Fine the 2v1, always an advantage for offense
- Defense must communicate and play zone/man down mentality
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Set Up
Put 4 offensive lines around the high and low wings. You will add a defensive line at x behind the cage, and another line at the point. Give the defenders numbers, and make sure the point and x lines are opposite. For example, the point Lines will have players 1,3,5,etc.. the line at X will have 2,4,6,etc..
On the whistle, coach will throw a ball in to an offensive line and call a defender number out. If they call “One”, that player will sprint and approach the offensive player receiving the ball from coach. They will play 1v1 until the play ends by a shot, turnover, or defensive takeaway. Coach will then add in the next defender, say “Two”. That player would be coming from X and coach will throw a new ball in to another offensive player and they play 2v2. Continue until you reach 6V6.
Coaching Points and Principles
Progressions
- Add in constraints to focus on a particular situation. For example, if the team needs to work on off ball offense, tell them on every rep that is 2v2+, off ball players must do some form of action like a V-Cut, Screen, etc..
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- Defensive – Approaches, focus on approach angles and keeping the offensive players away from center of field.
- Defensive – Communication: When the new defender is called in, they may be too far away from the new offensive player. In these situations, the new defender can bump a closer teammate to the ball, as you may do duing a recovery situation
- Offensive – Be a good dodger and attack the space or find ways to create the space you want. In the 2v2 + scenarios, you can work on picks and or on and off ball action
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A live 6v6 scrimmage allows players to apply the skills and concepts practiced throughout the session in a game-like environment. Play continuously while encouraging communication, decision-making, and teamwork. Keep coaching interruptions to a minimum, using brief teaching moments between possessions to maintain the flow and maximize repetitions.
Constraint Ideas: Possession clock • Every player touches the ball • Assisted goals only • Bonus points for defensive stops or caused turnovers • Start from specific situations (clear, ground ball, man-up, etc.) • Limit dodges or require a dodge before shooting • Reward good spacing and ball movement • Play uneven numbers (6v5, 5v6). |
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