Explosive squares

WHY USE IT

After making a pass, you don’t want players to stand still and admire their work, or struggling to create good supporting angles for the player with the ball.

SET UP

You need balls, bibs and cones. Mark out an area with four grids, 12x12 yards each (24x24 yards in total). We have shown 16 players being used in the session.

HOW TO PLAY

Split players into teams of four, and then allocate them a number from 1 to 4 within those teams. Put a team in each square - they start by passing the ball around in their own grid. After playing each pass, the player runs around a cone and back into the grid.

Progress the session so they have to pass in the numbered sequence, 1-4. Once they have done this a few times, call out an assigned number - all those players must go into the next grid clockwise to create 3v1s in each grid. The defender wins a point for his team every time the ball is lost. Play for 60 seconds then return to the grid.

Coaching points

Players must try and face the passer to make passing and receiving easier so they don’t have to turn. Good running and awareness off the ball makes it easier to see the passing options.