This is an entertaining exercise that focuses on the core skills of handling, catching and passing, putting them under increasing pressure as the pace hots up.

What you need for this game

• 14+ Players
• 2 Balls
• 4 Cones

Set-up

Use cones to mark out a playing area in a diamond formation measuring 20m x 30m, as shown 1.

Rules

Play begins and ends on your whistle.

What you do as coach

1. Imagine your diamond-shaped playing area is a clock face, with the cones placed at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. Place at least three players in a line behind each cone, with one ball at 6 o’clock and one at 9 o’clock.

On your whistle, the first players from 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock jog forwards, exchange a pass in the middle of the playing area and continue forwards to join the back of the opposite line. When the ball carrier reaches the opposite line, he gives the ball to the player at the front, who then takes the ball forwards and repeats the exercise with his opposite number.

2. At the same time, the players at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock do exactly the same, so you have players running across the clock and other players running up and down the clock.

3. Once the players have got used to this pattern, place two further players inside the area at points A and B, as shown. Get the ball carrier from 9 o’clock to exchange passes with player A before passing the ball to the runner from the opposite side as before, and the ball carrier from 6 o’clock to do the same with player B. As the players become more adept, encourage players A and B to vary the height and weight of their passes.

How you can progress the game

Put skills under pressure by gradually increasing the players’ speed until they reach full pace.

Help the players develop their handling – allow them to pass with one hand but insist they always catch with two.

• Line players up at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock.
• Players at 3 and 9 o’clock run and pass.
• Outline: Take time at the beginning of the game to let players know what you’re looking for: particularly good clean execution of core skills.

• At same time, players at 12 and 6 also run and pass in middle.
• Pattern continues.
• Look: This game puts core skills to the test, but it also examines players’ footwork and ability to avoid collision. See who copes well.

• Player from 9 exchanges passes with A.
• Player from 6 exchanges passes with B.
• Call out: Ramp up the pressure on the players by calling for them to increase their pace until they are running flat out.