Getting to grips with the 'power play' rule

Integrating it into your training activities to help players adapt

Bring in the power play as a rule in your training matches, or consider how you can add it to other types of practice.

For example, in a rondo, if the possession team makes a certain number of passes, the defending team gains a player from them. This allows your players to get used to the concept.

If you really want to use the rule during a training match, you can prompt it by starting a small-sided game with a score of 2-0 or 3-0, for example.

Introduce the general concepts of underloads and overloads to your players – playing 2v1s and 3v2s for example, so they get experience of playing in uneven match-ups.

Top tips for managing the ’power play’ rule on matchday

• Make sure everyone involved – coaches, players and parents – knows about the rule beforehand so they know what to expect.
• On the day, have a quick chat about it with the referee and the opposition coach. It can be handy to understand how the referee intends to communicate any information around the rule, and to double check that you and the opposition coach are on the same page about it.
• Have a plan for both sides. If you do have to add an extra player or two, what might your formation look like? Where might you ask the additional players to play and why? What will you ask your players to do? If the opposition has to add an extra player or two, what will you ask your team to do? What challenges can you set your players so they get the most learning from the experience?
• If you’re losing by three or five goals, ask the player you plan to bring on next to start warming up, so they are ready to go straight on if the decisive next goal goes in.
• Mix up who you bring on and off. In the same way that you shouldn’t have a consistent starting line-up at these age groups, don’t always bring the same players off or on for power plays. Allow all players to experience coming on and off so they get a chance to learn the lessons.
• Keep your players up to speed with the changes. It can be confusing for young players if numbers change. Communicate clearly with your players, letting them know how the numbers are changing (whether you’re gaining or losing a player, or the other team is doing so) and the impact that might have on the team shape or their individual role. If you’re adding a player, why not give them a message to carry onto the pitch for their team-mates, giving them a bit of a leadership role?
• Manage disappointment. If you’re the team adding players to the pitch because you’re losing, it’s natural that your players might feel a bit upset. Continue to support and encourage them and give them other challenges to focus on in the game that gives them something other than the score to think about. For example – now that we have an extra player, can we look to create some overloads out wide?
• Manage over confidence. If your team is the one in the lead and the opposition are bringing extra players on, it may be easy for your team to get over-confident. Support them to keep their focus on the game, aiming to maintain the level they’ve been playing at. Also ensure that they are respectful to the other team about the changes.