Practice 2: Delay for support

WHY USE IT

Produces situations players may find themselves in during a game. Again, they will need to delay opponents until a team-mate is able to recover and provide support.

SET UP

Set up an area appropriate for your players, with a goal and goalkeeper at each end. The players stay in their two groups. Again, they work in pairs and line up next to their goal. One ball per pair.

HOW TO PLAY

One pair attacks the opponent’s goal. Once a player has had a shot, a pair from the opposition enters to attack the opposite goal. The pair who just attacked are now defenders and try to prevent the other team from scoring. But, before they can defend, the attacker who did not have the shot must touch one of the goalposts of the goal they are attacking. The practice continues in this manner: players attack, then become defenders, then leave the pitch and re-join the line.

COACHING POINTS

• Players must continue to work on their decision making, understanding when to engage the player on the ball and when to delay, and use their body shape and position to dictate attacking players’ movements. 
• Once the second defender has recovered, they should work as a pair, concentrating on the distance and angle between them.