Practice 1: Scan, receive, turn

WHY USE IT

This practice promotes scanning, receiving and turning to create space, which all help in making quick choices and creating better options in a game.

SET UP

Set up a centre square of 5x5 yards, with outer players approximately 10-12 yards away, in a pentagon, hexagon or heptagon, depending on the number involved.

HOW TO PLAY

Give all players on the outside a ball, bar two of them. The player in the middle receives a ball at the front of the square, turns and looks to pass to a player who does not have a ball - they cannot pass back to the player they received the ball from. The player in the middle then looks for another player with a ball to receive from. Rotate the central player after about a minute’s play.

Progression: Introduce movement to the outside area - once the ball is played into the centre, players on the outside move clockwise. Add a defender to try and block - the player in the centre will always have one free

COACHING POINTS

• Stay on the ball if you can’t see a pass, and go to the ball to
• Look for the free player before you receive
• Use different types of turns when in the middle
• Keep moving in the centre and don’t just watch your passes, collect another