Warm-up: Movement off the ball

WHY USE IT

This warm-up practice provides plenty of chances for players to learn to identify space and work on technical details around passing and receiving.

SET UP

Divide 15 players into three teams of five (or whatever works for your numbers). Each team needs their own ball.

HOW TO PLAY

Each team begins with their own ball, passing and moving around the area. The practice can then be progressed to give each player in one team a ball, and they dribble around the area looking for space, while the other two teams continue to pass their respective balls between themselves. After a period of time, change the dribbling team.

COACHING POINTS

• This practice allows players to work on trying to receive the ball in space away from other players, taking a good first touch in the direction they want to go, making the pitch as big as possible, identifying areas of space to exploit, communication and decision-making skills.