Non – Competitive Awareness Numbers “Game” With Teams: Passing in Sequence

Divide the players up into three teams

30 x 30

Using 3 teams. Within each numbered team each player is numbered off. Teams (1) and (2) work together (with two balls) and team (3) works alone (with one ball). Players must pass in sequence i.e. with teams (1) and (2) working together 1 passes to 2; 2 passes to 3; 3 to 4 and so on up to 8 who passes to 1 and we begin again whilst team (3) players pass 1 to 4.

Awareness of: where the player you receive from is and where the player you pass to is. Because of this players begin to anticipate the pass to them and where it is coming from. Also they must look to where it is going to (where is the player they are passing to?). We are trying to create a situation where players are looking two moves ahead not just one.

For instance as (1) is about to pass to (2), (3) should be looking to support (2) for the next pass already, looking two moves ahead before the ball leaves (1).
Peripheral Vision Development results from this.

Develop: Reduce the number of touches players are allowed each time they receive a pass, all in free play to begin, then three touch, then two touch then one touch if it is on to do so. This speeds up the decision making process and forces them to look earlier as to where they are passing to.

Semi – Competitive Awareness Numbers Game: Passing in Sequence

Coaching Points:

There are many things that the player needs to process before they even touch the ball involved in this. The breakdown is:

Good Footwork to receive the ball; which in turn helps the first touch
Taking a look around for all options to increase their peripheral vision
An open body stance to be able to change the direction of play if needed
Communication from the player about to receive the ball to teammates; and from teammates to that same player to help him or her recognize the options available
Then the first touch occurs.
An Open body stance is needed to allow a yard or more extra space away from defenders by letting the ball run across the body into preconceived space.
Looking before receiving to know in advance of the receiving pass; where the defending players are, where the space is, where team mates are free to receive a pass, how many options there are to move the ball on.
Movement OFF the ball is a priority both to receive it and after passing it.