6v6 possession game: Perfecting wall passes

The intention: What is practised?
This 6v6 possession game aims to help a unit to perfect the wall pass with a view to eliminating defenders and enabling it to secure possession. The exercise focuses on unit-level aspects such as recognising when and where to play a one-two. The unit is asked to set themselves up for the wall pass by identifying a vulnerable defender and the space in behind them. The recipient of the one-two should indicate the space that they intend to move into so as to enable the player playing the pass to quickly identify where they should play it. Players initiating the wall pass should look to engage defenders to create space in behind them. Meanwhile, off-the-ball players should look to occupy spaces from where they can play a wall pass.

The scale: For whom is this relevant? 
This possession game revolves around the unit level and involves using excellent movement and reading of the game to play one-twos. The exercise is not particularly relevant to any given phase of play, and the main focus is on perfecting the technique involved in executing a wall pass. The drill should help the unit to improve its ability to secure possession and overcome pressure or eliminate defenders from play. The nature of the exercise means that it is non-position-specific, with players given the freedom to roam around the playing area.

The practice type: How is the practice designed? 
This exercise involves an opposed possession game contested in a reduced-sized playing area that is large enough for wall passes to be played. The rule that involves a player being eliminated if a wall pass is played around them encourages the in-possession team to play as many one-twos as possible, which serves to familiarise players with the requirements to execute the pass perfectly. With every opposition player who is eliminated, a team can use their numerical advantage to play more wall passes. The reintroduction of eliminated players prevents the out-of-possession team from becoming discouraged and enables them to continue to attempt wall passes when they regain possession. The fact that players have the freedom to roam around the playing area gives the unit the control to play one-twos, and they are tasked with identifying the right conditions, such as space, time and the position of the opposition, to play the pass.

Organisation

• Mark out a 30m x 20m playing area that includes a 30m x 5m eliminated player zone at either end.

• Split the group into 2 teams of 6 (oranges and blues).

Explanation

• The exercise starts with the orange team in possession.

• The orange team’s objective is to circulate the ball and play a wall pass around a blue-team defender.

• If the orange team play a wall pass around a blue-team defender, the defender involved is sent to the eliminated player zone.

• The eliminated player can leave the eliminated player zone by receiving a pass from a team-mate and playing a pass to any other team-mate.

• The game ends when all members of one team have been eliminated.

Key coaching points

Roles of coaches

• First coach: instructs the players on the rules of the game, encourages them to play wall passes and feeds balls into the playing area.

• Second coach: monitors when a wall pass has been played and the defenders who have been eliminated.