BARCELONA
Possession, interceptions, and defensive team work
WHAT YOU NEED:
- 12-15 players
- 2 sets of Bibs
- Cones or flat tab markers
- Approx 20 by 25m space
- 2 sets of Bibs
- Cones or flat tab markers
- Approx 20 by 25m space
HOW IT WORKS:
Set up an area as per the diagram with 2 possession zones and an intercept zone between them. Break your group into three teams, ideally 3 teams of 4 players.
As per the diagram, team yellow and blue will start in each of the possession zones and the red team, the defending team, will start with two players in the intercept zone and 2 players in one of the possession zones The defending team must always have 2 players in the intercept zone and they can move anywhere in this space.
The ball starts with the yellow team who are trying to complete four passes without the 2 defenders getting the ball. Yellow can move, carry, and pass the ball anywhere in their zone. Once four passes are made, the yellow team can then try to pass the ball to the blue team. They will need to pass the ball through or over the intercept zone, avoiding the two defenders.
If the defending team, the red team, get the ball off the yellow team, they immediately move their four players into that possession zone and start completing four passes. The yellow team must move two players into the interception zone before they can start defending.
If the yellow team pass the ball to the blue team, the defending team must transition across, shifting the two defenders out of the intercept zone to pressure blue, and the two defenders who were trying to tackle the yellow team, move into the intercept zone to maintain 2 players in there at all times.
The activity continues until the coach stops. Consider having a time limit to create rest periods for teams and if needed switch over who is defending.
As per the diagram, team yellow and blue will start in each of the possession zones and the red team, the defending team, will start with two players in the intercept zone and 2 players in one of the possession zones The defending team must always have 2 players in the intercept zone and they can move anywhere in this space.
The ball starts with the yellow team who are trying to complete four passes without the 2 defenders getting the ball. Yellow can move, carry, and pass the ball anywhere in their zone. Once four passes are made, the yellow team can then try to pass the ball to the blue team. They will need to pass the ball through or over the intercept zone, avoiding the two defenders.
If the defending team, the red team, get the ball off the yellow team, they immediately move their four players into that possession zone and start completing four passes. The yellow team must move two players into the interception zone before they can start defending.
If the yellow team pass the ball to the blue team, the defending team must transition across, shifting the two defenders out of the intercept zone to pressure blue, and the two defenders who were trying to tackle the yellow team, move into the intercept zone to maintain 2 players in there at all times.
The activity continues until the coach stops. Consider having a time limit to create rest periods for teams and if needed switch over who is defending.
WHAT TO FOCUS ON:
- Receiving and carrying the ball out in front, on the stick, to enable vision and ability to carry to space or pass to a teammate
- Early, quick, accurate passing alongside off the ball awareness and movement to create passing options
- Playing off each other to generate overlap and combination play
- Defending as a team to create intercepts
- Transition habits and organisation, quickly organising and reacting as a team on both attack and defence
- Early, quick, accurate passing alongside off the ball awareness and movement to create passing options
- Playing off each other to generate overlap and combination play
- Defending as a team to create intercepts
- Transition habits and organisation, quickly organising and reacting as a team on both attack and defence
WAYS TO ADAPT:
- Create some competition by teams scoring a point for every time they successfully complete the four passes and move the ball across to the other possession zone
- After a team has made three passes allow a third defender to join from the intercept zone
- Change the size of the intercept and possession boxes. The larger the areas, the easier it will be for the attackers
- If you have a GK, consider them staying in the intercept zone as a permanent defender
- After a team has made three passes allow a third defender to join from the intercept zone
- Change the size of the intercept and possession boxes. The larger the areas, the easier it will be for the attackers
- If you have a GK, consider them staying in the intercept zone as a permanent defender