By Matt Carroll -
The purpose of this drill is to create a series of scenarios in which a bumper player is setting up the attacking team with a specific shot technique, but how that scenario is reached, or which scenario is being presented will change based on the decisions the attacking players make. To set up the 4+4 v. 4+4 first start by creating a 50x40 grid with to designated teams defending a large goal at each end. Small goals can be used as well if there isn’t access to the larger goals, but should then be spaced out. The field is cut in half for the purpose of setting up the bumper players with two players from one team placed on the oppositions side of the field. Two of the bumpers are also placed at the end line of the goal that team is attacking, and vice versa for the opponents.
The game starts with a kickoff from one of the teams like a normal match. Players look to play the ball to their bumper players, either at the end line or wide areas. Play must go through one of the bumpers to score.Players can be allowed to score directly from play, which will help avoid “babysitting” the bumper players, but it will help if there is point values that discourage this, for example have 1 point for a goal from the run of play, 2 points a goal that comes from one of the bumpers, and 5 if it comes from two 1 touch passes (one from the bumper, and a one time finish).
An alternate to this is to put goals in the corners and have a bumper player on each edge of the box. This helps if you have fewer players and has players working on utilizing more side to side field vision compared to the first iteration which is more of a direct to goal version.
By Matt Carroll -
