By Matt Carroll
The add one game is meant to give a visual representation of how switching the field can reduce the effectiveness of defensive overloads and allows players to develop the technical ability to play out of pressure, as well as the confidence to make decisions when they are in numbers-down situations.
The drill starts with a goal occupied by a goalie at the end of a 45x60 grid on the shorter side. These dimensions can vary, and pug goals can be used as breakout goals on the opposite side of the grid. The defensive team is made up of 6 players in the grid, with the attacking team made up of 3 players inside the grid, with 3 players standing outside the grid not actively in play.
The drill starts with the attacking team in possession, attacking the goal. Immediately what we should see is the defensive team utilizing their numerical advantage to put the attacking team under pressure. The attacking team should utilize width and depth in order to avoid the defensive players.
Likely, down by three players, they will not last long, so in order to succeed, the attacking team can utilize the three players that are lined up on the outside. They can enter the playing grid at any time, but only can do so one at a time.
For example, a player enters the grid since the defense has applied pressure to the player on the ball, they provide the outlet and switch the ball to the player on the right. They then leave the field of play, and the farside player enters the grid and is played a long switch to their feet, which initiates an attack on goal.
Coaching points for this drill will include focusing on clean, crisp passes that do not put the receiver under further pressure, using width and depth to move the defense to allow for openings in the defense, and focusing on using the defender’s compactness against them.
By Matt Carroll
