By Alex Trukan
From conditioning point of view, this practice is focused on developing an ability to produce more high intensity bursts and recover between them quickly even towards the end of the match. In other words, maintaining quick recovery between high intensity actions. From technical point of view, this possession game improves quick combination play, short range passing and movements off the ball. It develops players’ decision making under pressure and involves competitive element.
Set up and directions
Organise a 12 x 18 yards rectangle with two end zones (3 yards wide). Place one goal on both shorter ends of the area. Divide the group into two teams of three. Two players from the team play in the middle area and one player is locked in the end zone as shown on the diagram below. Designate one server. Prepare a sufficient amount of balls next to the server to ensure flow and intensity of the practice.
The game starts with a server playing the ball into one of the teams (which automatically becomes the attacking team). The team then tries to maintain possession and combine.
Whenever possible, the ball should be played into the opposititon target player who is locked in the end zone. Target player should be moving to create good passing angles.
As soon as the ball is played into the target, one of the attacking players will be looking to make forward runs and get into the end zone. Target player is limited to one touch and has to pass to set up one of the attacking players to finish. The game is then restarted from the server who plays the ball into the team that has conceded. Every time the ball goes out, it is restarted from the server as well.
Timing:
The game should be played 1-3 minutes and repeated 6-10 times in 2 series. Rest between repetitions should be 3-1 minutes and between series, 4 minutes.
Variations:
- Goal can be only scored off one touch
- Two floaters (servers) to support team in possession
- The player who passed the ball into the target player is not allowed to score
By Alex Trukan, Development Coach, Nottingham Forest - @AlexTrukan
