Session drill · 13 seconds
Through the Box
A passing and vision game. Four players stand on the sides of a square with a small box of four cones in the middle, and two players inside the square guarding it. The outside players move the ball round the outside with the objective of passing it through the cone box to score a point, and the two in the middle try to block the passes and stop the ball getting through. The two in the middle are not allowed inside the cone box: if they could stand in it there would be nothing to aim at and nothing could ever go through, so they work the approaches and cut the ball out before it reaches the cones. If the pass goes through the box and the teammate on the far side receives it cleanly, that is a point. The ball has to move quickly round the outside AND the outside players have to move along their own sides, because the lane through the box does not exist until the angle is made. Stand still and there is nothing on; shift along your line and the gap appears.
Instructions
- The two players in the middle cannot go inside the cone box
- Heads up: look for the gap through the box before the ball reaches you
- Move the ball quickly around the outside to drag the two middle players out of position
- Weight and disguise the pass, a firm, accurate ball beats the block
- The receiver stays on their toes, ready to control cleanly on the other side
Variation
- Limit the outside players to two touches, then one touch, to speed it up. Shrink the middle box, or add a third player in the middle, to make it harder. Add a second ball so both pairs are trying to pass through at the same time. Every time a pass gets through, the closest middle player swaps out with an outside player, so everyone defends.
Building lineups in seconds
Set your team sheet, plan your substitutions, and share it with the parents before you leave the car park.
