Organisation

Diagram 1. Set-Up Arrangement

Set-Up

• On a full size football field use the space between the 18yrd area and touchline. (10-12 mins) 11 players (Usually starters).
• Back 4 can be grouped together (i.e. as either the blue or red team to build teamwork and understanding. The midfield 4 could also be grouped into one of these colours.
• The 3 yellow neutral players should generally be a CD, CM, CF to reflect their actual positions.
• Try to position players based on their game positioning.

Player Roles/Instructions

• Use players in their appropriate positions to prepare them for a football match. i.e. Have a CF, CM and CB down the spine of the exercise (in yellow below)
• Coach monitors the game from the sideline or on the field and supplies balls (if needed).
• 4 blues start in the central playing area. 4 reds on the edge of the playing area.
• Teams can be set-up in different formations if needed to practice against a specific opponent.

Start Position(s)

• 2 teams compete to maintain possession in the playing area, using the neutrals (yellow). Plenty of footballs should be available to be passed in by a coach to make play continuous. If the defending team wins/intercepts the football from the outside players, they must switch positions (transition) going from their expansive shape to compact and vice versa.
• Rules
• Players should not be static and should be active.
• 2 yellow players play on each end line and one in the middle.
• Play for 2-3 mins and then break for either a 30 sec or 1 minutes rest period.

Scoring

• Possession passing targets can be set (i.e. 8 consecutive passes.