4 Grids of 4

DESCRIPTION

SETUP

• Two teams of 8.
• Split into 4’s.
• Field: 25yds wide by 32 long. Field is split into 1/4s (8 yard sections)
• 4 blue in section 1 and 3
• 4 yellow in section 2 and 4
• Teams must stay in their grid.

INSTRUCTIONS

• Coach starts with ball at middle and plays it in to one team.
• Ball must never stop moving.
• Team with ball plays 2 touch, looking for an opportunity to play to their teammates (the other group of 4).
• The defensive team between the two must move and shift to not allow team to connect the pass through them.
• Offensive team gets a point for every split.
• If defensive team stops/wins ball as it is played through their grid, they then try to connect with their teammates.

COACHING POINTS

Offensive:

• Prepared to receive/play ball
• Looking to attack
• Quick ball movement to catch
• Defense shifting

Defensive:

• Stay organized
• Communicate shifting
• Cut passing lanes
• Closest to ball -pressure (close to line to cut angle as much as possible)
• Must move as ball moves to cut lanes of play.
• Play for a time then switch grids with teammates (1 to 3 and 2to 4)

VARIATION

• Can play 1 touch.
• As teams get hang of it, you can allow 1 defender into the opposing teams grid to pressure or win ball. This will force attacking players to be on their toes because they can be dispossessed in their own grid. Only one defender can be in at a time.
• Defenders must choose wisely when to step into grid. If they go to early or reckless they will be wall passed or just passed through the whole they left.

Adapted from http://footballer21.com.