Objective:

• To further develop supporting play, timing, pace and accuracy of passing.

Organization:

• Group of 10 whenever possible.
• Split into two teams of 5.
• 15 x 15 yards area.
• 5 vs. 2 with other defenders waiting their turn.
• The “five” attempt to keep possession from 2.
• As soon as the “five” make a mistake and lose the ball the two defenders change and the coach rolls in another ball.
• Defenders can change “on the fly” if the “five” are doing well and the defenders are getting tired.
• Coach keeps the time on the stopwatch and calls time out after 4 mistakes.
• Then the other five try to keep the ball for longer than their opponents.
• Coach keeps supply of balls to help continuity.
• If the players are finding the 5 vs. 2 difficult consider making it 6 vs. 2 and increasing the space.
• If they are finding it easy, decrease the space.

Teaching:

• Tell players "off the ball" to work continually at making good passing angles for players with ball.
• Encourage use of space available by spreading out.
• Requires good passing techniques, pace of the pass and good "first touch."
• Make sure players "on the ball" are prepared to hold it and screen away from opponents if players "off the ball" are not available.
• Two defenders must work off one another.
• When the defenders win the ball make sure it is kicked out of play otherwise it does not count as a “mistake” if an attacker gets the ball back.

Target:

• To keep the ball longer than the opposition.