Speed of Play by Christy Mazzola

For ages U8 through U12

To play the name game, the player with the ball passes to a player of their choice. Before the receiving player receives the pass, they must yell the name of the player they are going to pass to. Upon the next player receiving the ball, they must yell the name of the player they are going to pas to. This is designed to make the players think a step ahead of the play. Start with two touches on the ball, one touch to receive the pass, and the other touch to make the pass.  

·        Increase the speed by going to one touch. 

·        Encourage players not to make a pass back to the player they received the pass from, and to pass to different people each time.

·        Can add a second ball, encouraging players to keep their heads up and take looks around at all times.

·        Remind players to think ahead, good first touch and quality pass. 

Divide team into even groups of 4 to 6, giving each group a different color pinnie, and place all groups within same grid of about 30x30. Within each group, number players 1 through 6 (or 1 through 4 depending on numbers). Each group will pass one ball in numerical order from 1 to 2, 2 to 3, 3 to 4 and so on.  Encourage players to think about who the ball is coming from and where it is going to. Movement off the ball is crucial as well as communication. 

·        The pattern can be reversed, going from 6 to 5, 5 to 4, 4 to 3.

·        From there, you can progress to odds can only pass to odds and evens can only pass to evens. A second ball would be added to each group for this stage.

·        Players can progress to passing to the next number of their own group or of a different group. This will encourage them to lift their heads and talk to find out who they can pass to.

Create groups of 4, each group in a 15x15 grid with one ball.  Players will play 3 v 1, however the defender is not trying to win the ball, but trying to touch the player while he or she is in possession of the ball.   Players must move to help their teammate who is in possession of the ball, and must think quickly about where they will pass.

·        Add a second ball, defender can pressure either person. The single person on offense without the ball must constantly be thinking about which person to support.

·        If attackers can hold the ball for 10 seconds or complete 5 passes, they get a point.

·        If defender wins the ball by tagging an attacker, he/she hands the pinnie to the person they tagged.

·        Increase the group to small sided, depending on numbers, still having the team on defense trying to tag the player with the ball. Progress to actual tackling of the ball to create a small sided scrimmage.