Practice 3: Winning the ball

WHY USE IT

Players now need to work as a team to defend an area and attempt to win possession of the ball.

SET UP

Set up an appropriately sized pitch, with an end zone at each end. Split players into two teams, set up into a formation, such as 3-2-1 or 3-1-2.

HOW TO PLAY

Play as a normal game, with teams winning a point if a player receives a pass within the end zone they are attacking. The lines marking the end zones can be used as an offside line, to prevent players from just waiting inside an end zone.

COACHING POINTS

• Building on the coaching points from the previous practices, defenders are now looking to force opponents into playing the ball to certain team-mates or areas of the pitch, where they then look to win the ball. 
• Players are encouraged to use key words, such as lock, squeeze and/or win your 1v1.