Two areas, side-by-side, allows for dynamic 1v2 action to develop a wide range of skills.
Works on aspects of the game in an opposed setting, including passing, receiving, finishing, communication, awareness, defending 1v1, and covering and recovering.
Set up two rectangular areas, each 30x10 yards, side-by-side. Adjust to suit the age, ability and experience of your players. Each area has an end zone, 10 yards long, with a goal. This acts as an offside line. You will need balls, cones and goals. Outfield players work in groups of three, starting at the opposite end to the goal. Odd numbers are catered for: players move around the circuit, so groups are flexible. There is a goalkeeper in each goal.
A coach passes the ball to the middle of the three attackers. This player selects who to pass to, and the other player defends 1v2. The team of two then attacks and aims to finish with a shot at goal, retain or recover their ball and return it to the coach. They then join the next channel to repeat the process with a different player in the middle. The coach starts the next attack on the other pitch.
See after activity for an in-depth look at practice outcomes, potential challenges and the questions to ask to support learning.
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