Target the weak point and space

CHALLENGE

Use this small-sided game followed by a match simulation to improve spatial awareness and decision-making. 

how to do it

Warm up

• Put two attackers with a ball in the middle of a 5m square with two defenders on the outside of the box.
• When you say “Go”, the attackers aim to touch a corner with their foot (or the ball) before they are touched. They can run with the ball and pass. They try to score as many as they can in 30 seconds.
• Defenders cannot enter the box but can straddle the boxes at the corners if they want. A touched attacker, leaves the box and the roles are swapped.
• Any “try or touch” disputes where there is a simultaneous try and touch, is simply a restart.

Game situation

• Put three defenders outside a 20m x 10m box.
• One of the defenders is clearly identified as the weak defender
  (a bib or different coloured shirt).
• Tell defenders which cones they should run to as five attackers enter the box.
• The attackers aim to score past the cones.
• They fail if they are touched by a non-weak defender, drop the ball or throw a forward pass. If they are touched by the weak defender, the ball carrier has three seconds to pass the ball (or score themselves).

TECHNIQUE

• Keep your head up, looking for spaces as well as team-mates.
• Move the ball quickly to the target player and attack at pace.

warm up