Practice: playing forward

WHY USE IT

This practice develops the ideas from the technical warm up, allowing players to identify opportunities to move into spaces to create a pass that breaks lines and allows them to play forwards.

Set-up

Set out a pitch size suitable for the number of players, their age and their ability. Mark out an end zone at each end of the pitch.

HOW TO DO IT

Teams attempt to score by dribbling into the end zone. Each time a team does so, they receive a point. The team who scored keeps possession and attacks the opposite end zone.

Adaptations: The pitch size can be manipulated to promote different ideas. A bigger pitch may encourage players to drive into spaces with the ball; a smaller pitch may encourage more combination play.

Based on player age and ability, adding three gates at the halfway point of the pitch may be a good idea to begin this practice. This is to encourage players to utilise what they learned in the warm-up. If using this adaptation, further reward teams for passing and successfully receiving through a central gate.

You may also adapt the practice by allowing passes as well as dribbling into the end zone.

coaching points

Encourage players to open up space as quickly as possible in possession and make forward runs. Challenge them to find spaces that open up passing lanes and allow them to receive the ball on the half-turn (body positioning) with the ability to play and move forward.

This practice presents another opportunity to develop passing and receiving skills - continue to emphasise the pass details of ball speed and accuracy, as well as back-foot receiving.