Juggle, catch, pass

This great warm-up game prepares players to take a bad pass then make an excellent instant pass to a team mate to ensure the attack keeps going no matter what quality of ball first received.

Set-up

A 10m square with two players in the middle and two at either end facing each other (picture 1). One ball per square.

The rules

Outside player (A) passes the ball to put player 1 under most pressure – up high, down low, to the left or right. However, ensure all passes can be caught (picture 2). When player 1 catches the ball, he has one second to make a pass to player 2’s chest area – anywhere else is a poor pass (picture 3).

Once player 2 has caught the ball, he passes to player B and the game starts again. Switch players round. The player who makes the most passes to chest height in one minute is the individual winner.

Have lots of groups and work out the best group by adding all scores together. Every player plays in all four positions so game takes a maximum of five minutes with change rounds.

Scoring

• One point for every clean catch from a poor pass.
• Another point for an accurate pass within a second.
• A point for an accurate pass to an outside player.

Tell them

“Hands up at all times, reacting to a pass.”

“Look at the receiver, listen to the call and pass quickly to the chest”.

Coaching tips

This game allows players to move around and have fun, providing key time to gain confidence with ball in hand.