Developing Movement Off the Ball

In a grid 30 yards x 25 yards, play a 2v2 plus one possession game. All players are on two touches. Play for three minutes and then switch the neutral player.

Eight consecutive passes affords the team a point. The team with more points wins at the end of the three minutes.  If nobody accumulates eight passes, then the team in possession at the end of three minutes is the winner. You can vary the activity to award points for wall passes, overlaps and third man runs.

Keep the numbers 2v2 plus one. This forces players to work off the ball. Too many players in this game allows for breaks and lack of involvement. You are trying to teach accountability, so the players must appreciate that if they do not move then their team suffers.

You can move to teams of 5 in a directional game. Same size grid, but now you play 3v3 with a target on each end line for both teams. When the ball finds the target, he/she joins the game. The person playing to the target on the outside, now becomes the target.

Award points for wall passes, overlaps, and third man runs. Play for 5 minutes. The team with the most points wins. Based on numbers, you can have multiple fields with championship field. You can also play “winners stay”.

I have found this to work wonders for my team’s movement and purposeful possession. Try it !