Against the clock

WHY USE IT

This fun game encourages players to work together to successfully defend and break up play. It also gives players the opportunity to work in small groups to maintain possession.

 

Set-up

Mark out an area relative to the age, ability and number of your players. Divide the area into four equal squares. Choose two players to start as defenders. All other players are divided equally between the four squares. Each group needs a ball.

 

HOW TO play

On your call, the defenders run into one square and work together to try to win the ball and kick it out of the area. 

 

Once they have won the ball, they move on to the next square, until they have won possession in all four squares. They are aiming to be as fast as possible. 

 

Swap defenders until every player has had a turn. The fastest pair of defenders wins.

 

progressions & aDAPTATIONS

The defenders can have two seconds removed from their overall score each time they successfully win possession and dribble out of the area, or pass to the coach, rather than simply just kicking the ball out.

 

COACHING POINTS

• Encourage defenders to work together to cut off passing options and trap attackers in a corner. Press and cover.
• Defenders can use the lines as an extra defender to force attackers out of play.
• ‘Shut down, slow down, surf’ – close down attacker quickly, slow down just before getting to them, bend knees and use side-on body position to force the attacker one way.