CONTROL SHOOTING PASSING DRIBBLING TURNING HEADING CREATE SPACE INDIVIDUAL DEFENDING SUPPORT PLAY GOALKEEPING CROSSING TACKLING THE THROW IN ATTACKING SET PLAYS DEFENDING SET PLAYS THE FREE KICK

CREATING SPACE

Please select a subsection from the topics below :

A basic introduction   Cross over runs  The Overlap   Creating Space 1 and 2    Creating Space 3    Creating Space 4    Creating Space 5    Creating Space 6    Creating Space 7   Creating Space 8   Creating Space 9   Creating Space for Junior Players    Creating Space for Junior Players 2    Creating Space for Junior Players 3

CREATING SPACE FOR JUNIOR PLAYERS

To get young players used to the idea of searching for space on the field, a good warm up is a conditioned game of “Head, Catch, Throw”.

In this, again with the same teams as in the previous practice i.e. 3 against 3, and in the same area 15m x 20m, the players manoeuvre about trying to retain as much possession as possible by either throwing or heading. 

So if team A starts with the ball – player A1 has the ball in his hands – closely marked by B1.

A1 has to throw to A2 (or A3 whichever presents the best option) with the B team trying to intercept – although they must not make contact with any of the A team.

So with A1 in possession A2 and A3 try to lose their markers (see diagram) – yet still trying to stay in contact with their team mates.  So for example:

A1 throws to A2 who must ‘head’ the ball to A3 or back to A1, who then catches, and then the same procedure continues with players moving all over the area.  If B’s get the ball they pick up the practice with A’s becoming the markers. 

The sequence must remain “Head, Catch, Throw”.

Coaches can make it competitive later by introducing goals, A’s trying to score in goal B and B's trying to score in goal A - goals only scored by heading.