Communicating with your team mates

This session is designed to improve communication amongst your players through a series of simple passing and receiving exercises.

What this session is about

1. Let them know if they can turn.
2. Let them know if you want a return pass.
3. Let them know if they are being pressured.

What to think about

When making a pass your players can often see the area surrounding the receiving player better than this player can himself.

In addition, when passing to a player you often have an idea on what you would like the player to do (turn, set back etc) therefore its vitally important that your players start to give information to the receiving player on every pass they make.

Set-up

25 x 25 yard area.

Warm up	Session	Developments	Game Situation	Warm Down
10 minutes	10 minutes	15 minutes	15 minutes	10 minutes

What you get your players to do

The central players continually move around inside the area and receive passes from the outside players. While doing so they have 3 calls to work to.

Set 1 – the players must call their team mates name.

Set 2 – the players must communicate “man on” or “set” which will see them receiving a return pass.

Set 3 – the players must communicate for the player to turn out.

Set ball back to passer on a call of “Set” or “Man on”.

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Development

Add two defenders in the centre of the area who can try to tackle the receiving players.

Now when passing into the centre, the information you give your team mates is crucial to the team retaining the ball.

If a player loses the ball the player communicating replaces the defender. Rotate players regularly.

The players receive a pass and are instructed to turn out.

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Game situation

Play a normal game. Every time a pass is made without communication, award a free kick to the posing team.

Can you turn? Or do you have to set ball back?

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What to call out

• “Give the player information”
• “Listen and trust your friend”