| Moving Triangles -
This drill is a
successful attempt to get players moving and passing more effectively. Practice
time is precious and it disturbs me to see long lines of players standing
almost still as they pass the ball back and forth practicing their skills.
Furthermore, in scrimmages and games they often make decent passes and then
stand and watch. (Which is exactly what they have done in practice a thousand
times....) The triangles gets them to move without the ball, especially just
after they have made a pass. Learning the triangle movement is important in itself but the real fun comes by incorporating this pattern into a multitude of games with shooting, keep away, defense, relay races etc. Some may recognize the moving triangles as a "weave" pattern, which it is. But unlike the classic "basketball" type weave which works accross a line, the moving triangles open the field up into 3 dimensions as the players find "space" without the ball. I usually start this drill early in the practice session and quickly use it to play one of the many games. (see below) It can end up being pretty tiring, so take frequent breaks and only set them in motion for about 60 to 90 seconds.
4.Encourage advanced receiving skills with deflections behind the other leg and feints before the "touch". GAME - add a defender and count the number of successful passes before an interception. 5. Call out a move or feint (e.g. "single sizzors" or "Matthews"..) and each player must perform that move just before the pass. GAME - once again add a defender and see which group lasts the longest. Other Game variations. 1. Triangle races. Have 2 or three "triangles" start behind the goal line and race up the field to the other goal, passing all the time. Some groups will figure out how to make big long passes and that is OK. Other groups will pass quick short ones. Add a penalty if they do more than 2 touches (like 2 sommersaults, or 10 "in-betweens etc.) 2. "Wedgie shots". Start the triangle ("wedgie") at mid-field and have them work up the field towards the goal to take a shot from just inside the penalty box. A shot on goal gets a point, and if they beat the goalie it's 3 points. As they get better, add a defender. 3. "Attack of the wedgies". Start up a couple of triangles at the same time. Confine them to less than half a field. The object of the game is to continue passing in the usual pattern but also to intercept the pass from another group, and kick it out of bounds for 1 point. 4. Turbo "wedgies". This is the ultimate! Start up a couple of triangles at one end line and have them race down towards the other goal, like "triangle races". But, now the object is to shoot and score from just inside the penalty box. The race is on to make a bunch of passes, and turns and controls with a scoring finish. If they score, they get a point, but if the goalie stops it, or they miss, the coach throws them another ball that they have to work back to mid-field and then try to come back in and score. Once again, as they improve add a single roving defender or have the coach play some "teaching defense". You will enjoy watching the players passing, moving, feinting, overlaping, wall passing, trail passing, through passing and shooting, ALL ON THEIR OWN in a fun contest!!! |
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This document maintained by James King |