Practice 1: Advancing the play

WHY USE IT

This introduction develops players’ ability to play between the lines and find the free player.

Set-up

Create two rectangular areas of the same size, and allocate three teams of three to each area. Two teams start in the middle and one team acts as bounce players, with one player in the middle and two on the ends.

Play for three rounds, rotating each team after every game, which can last anywhere from 2-4 minutes.

HOW TO play

The coach serves a ball in; whichever team receives it begins with possession. Along with their team-mates, players can also use the three bounce players to create a 6v3 overload. The aim is to transfer the ball from one end to the other as many times as possible.

progressions & ADAPTATIONS

Limiting the touches for the bounce players creates the need for fast support when the ball is played to an outside player or through the central one.

You can also create a scoring system: every time the ball goes from one end to the other, that team scores 1 point.

COACHING POINTS

• Find the spare player, which will likely be the central bounce player. As the ball goes into them, how can players support the ball with forward runs?
• Can players look to receive the ball behind the opposition on the offensive side, with a priority being placed on receiving to play forward wherever possible?
• Diagonal passes will create better opportunities to play forward – how can these be encouraged and developed?