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Practice games

Slow the Train

Friendly 1v1 defending: stay side-on, back off patiently and slow the train down.

Practice 12 min 4 to 16 players Cage Half pitch 2016 to 2018

Brave 1v1 Win It, Keep It, Score Work hard Be brave

At a glance

  • Pairs, one ball, in a lane 5 m wide by 15 m long, marked with discs down each side. The train (T) starts at one end.
  • T scores 1 by dribbling over the far end line. The defender (D) starts 3 m in front, side-on, on their feet, and backs off slowly.
  • D scores 1 if T stops, turns back or goes out of the side. A poke that wins and stops the ball scores 2.
  • Swap and come back the other way. After 2 minutes, one of each pair moves to the next lane.
  • Progress 1: A wider lane, 7 m, so the train has more room to get past.
  • Progress 2: The train can sprint whenever it chooses.

If it's not working: The train walks.

Slow the Train: set-upTD121 the train comes, 2 back off side-on, small steps.15 m by 5 m
  • Ttrain
  • Ddefender
  • run
  • dribble
  • 1in this order

One lane, drawn across the page, with discs marking each side. The train dribbles for the far end line. The defender stays on their feet, side-on, and backs off slowly with small steps to slow the train down. A poke that wins and stops the ball scores 2, but only when the ball runs loose in front of them.

Full details: set up, how to play, tips and age tweaks

Set up

  • Cone out lanes side by side.
  • Mark each side of the lane with discs, one every 3 m.
  • The attacker (train) is at one end.
  • The defender starts 3 m in front, facing them.

Pairs, each in their own lane 5 m wide by 15 m long. With more than 4 pairs, set the lanes out in two rows.

How to play

  • The train dribbles for the far end line, and scores 1 by getting over it.
  • The defender stays on their feet, side-on, and backs off slowly.
  • The defender scores 1 if the train stops, turns back or goes out of the side.
  • They score 2 for a poke that wins and stops the ball.
  • Swap and come back the other way.
  • After 2 minutes, one of each pair moves to the next lane along for a new partner.

Keeping everyone moving

Every pair runs at once and turns straight round. There is no queue.

Make it easier

  • The train walks.
  • A narrower lane.

Make it harder, step by step

  1. A wider lane, 7 m, so the train has more room to get past.
  2. The train can sprint whenever it chooses.

Three things to say

  • Side-on with small steps.
  • Patience, no diving in.
  • Poke only when the ball is too far from the attacker.

Words that work: "Patient and brave, great defending!", "Super hard work backing off!", "Lovely, you helped your partner learn!"

Colts habit

Defend as a friend.

Both feet

The defender practises leading with either foot.

Heads up

Watch the ball, not the tricks.

For your birth year

Pick a birth year to show the tweak for that group.

2018 to 2019
4 m lane, walking train first.
2016 to 2017
Full speed. The defender shows the train to the practice foot side.

Safety: No slide tackles, no shoulder barges, hands off. Safety swap for big size gaps.

Keeping score: Times I stopped the train in 2 minutes: beat your own last score.