On the half-turn – warm-up

WHY USE IT

This warm-up is designed to give all players an unopposed practice at playing forward passes, as well as receiving the ball on the half-turn.

SET UP

The area used for this warm- up should be the same area as the centre circle of the pitch. Minimum numbers should be 10 players. I have shown this with 14. Flat cones work best.

HOW TO PLAY

Both teams start with a ball each. They both have one player from each team in the middle of the circle. Both teams start at the same time playing a forward pass into their teammate and then quickly following their pass into the middle. The player in the middle must receive the ball on the half turn – this will allow them to play a pass to a player in front of them. Once they have played that pass, they move out of the middle and into free space (they do not follow their pass). A progression for the practice would be to have a third ball being passed clockwise around the outside between both teams. This will challenge decision making.

COACHING POINTS

• Weight of pass
• Good understanding of receiving on the half-turn
• Playing forward early from middle of pitch
• Scanning for right option
• High tempo