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A practice encouraging players to indicate how and where they want the ball passed to them.

WHY USE IT

Works on aspects of the game in an opposed setting, including passing, receiving, moving with the ball, communication and awareness.

SET UP

The area size can very between 40x20 yards or 40x30 yards, depending on numbers, age and experience of the group. You will need balls and cones. This practice involves the whole squad, including the goalkeepers.

HOW TO PLAY

This is a multiple-ball practice, with one between two or three players. Players who do not have a ball must present themselves to receive from a player who does. The player who passed the ball must then move quickly to another square, setting themselves to make eye contact and preparing to receive a pass. Before showing for the ball, the receiver should try to ‘go to show’ or ‘show to go’, indicating how and where they want the ball played to them. This could be with an open body, so they let the ball run across them, or into the space in front of them so they can run onto it.

COACHING POINTS

See after activity below for an in-depth look at practice outcomes, potential challenges and the questions to ask to support learning.

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