Hold back to receive a ground cutback
Keep the central receiver behind a wide ball carrier, then meet a backward ground pass with room to prepare a finish.
Check the problem
Both players run toward the target together, leaving the wide carrier with nobody behind the ball. The receiver then turns back into a hurried pass. Rehearse holding a useful depth while the carrier travels forward.
Set up the space and roles
Each of two 10 × 16 m stations uses ten cones: four corners, a 2 m empty target gate, two delivery-line cones 3 m from the target and two receiving-line cones 6 m from it. Keep a 4 m gap and 2 m outer buffer: 28 × 20 m clear. Server 1 carries in the leftmost 2 m band; receiver 2 waits centrally, behind the receiving line. Observer 3 stays behind that receiver, outside the central 4 m shot corridor. Use one ball per trio; 4/5/6 repeat separately.
Keep the rotation clear
Start 1 wide carrier, 2 receiver, 3 observer; rotate carrier → receiver → observer at each round pause. Use 4/5/6 identically. Every child receives, carries and observes in both blocks. Keep left-sided deliveries today; changing the side is optional future practice.
See the practice in three steps
Schematic views, not to scale. Player numbers match the roles below. Dark arrows show passes, dashed green arrows show movement and solid green arrows show carries. Use the written dimensions when marking your area.
1. Leave the receiver behind the ball
2. Travel forward and cut the ball back
3. Adjust to an earlier cutback
Your complete 30-minute plan
Briefing, planned role changes, water and reflection are included. Add rest or stop when needed; shorten active play rather than rushing a transition.
00:00–03:00 · 3 min
Check, explain and walk the layout
Walk the carrier toward the delivery line while the receiver stays behind the ball. At the line, the carrier stops and checks a backward ground passing route. The receiver meets that pass behind the receiving line, controls and checks the empty target. Nobody stands in front of a shot.
03:00–08:00 · 5 min
Prepare the movement
Use the same forward carry and backward pass without a finish. The receiver returns to the server, who walks back down the wide band. Rotate after three returns. Count a shared point when the receiver stays behind the ball and meets a comfortable pass. Pause and rebuild if the two players arrive level. Stop both stations before retrieving from their shared gap or a neighbouring station.
08:00–17:00 · 9 min
Focused practice and role changes
Use three rounds of 2 minutes 40 seconds and 20-second role pauses. The carrier stops at the delivery line, passes backward, then stays wide and still. The receiver may adjust along the receiving line but finishes only from behind it. A controlled cutback followed by a ground target finish earns one point. After each attempt everyone stops; the finisher retrieves the stationary ball on the clear signal and returns outside the corridor. A missed pass resets without a shot.
17:00–19:00 · 2 min
Water and reset
Stop every ball, offer water and rest, and check the same station and its clear buffers. Walk to the next roles while the ball remains still. Extra rest takes priority; shorten the next playing block if needed.
19:00–28:00 · 9 min
Use the choice in a game
Keep the two trio stations for the same three timed rounds. Before each attempt the observer names carry or early pass from the safe rear position. On carry, the server travels to the delivery line and cuts back. On early pass, the server sends a shorter backward diagonal before reaching it. The receiver adjusts depth behind the actual ball, then controls and finishes if ready. A useful reception scores one and an accurate ground finish adds one. Retrieve only after all movement stops; the next attempt begins at the wide start.
28:00–30:00 · 2 min
Reflect and choose the next step
Ask the receiver which starting depth kept the pass in front of them. Repeat without finishing if the receiver repeatedly gets ahead of the ball.
Watch for a useful change
- Receiver stays behind the wide ball rather than racing level.
- Cutback travels backward into the receiver’s reach.
- Wide carrier is clear and still before the central finish.
Make it easier
Start the server still on the delivery line and use a comfortable backward pass without a shot.
When ready
Let the server choose the delivery point within the wide band before stopping. Keep a backward pass and preparation touches; no first-time requirement.
Ask the receiver which starting depth kept the pass in front of them. Repeat without finishing if the receiver repeatedly gets ahead of the ball.
If conditions change
Stop active play when the surface, weather or available clear space is unsuitable. Use an indoor area only if it can hold the full written footprint and buffers. Otherwise keep the ball still, walk through the roles without pressure, and reschedule the live game. Extra rest takes priority over finishing the timetable.
Original Session Pitch practice. Open this file from the extracted folder with its three maps and stylesheet. Use your browser’s Print command to save a PDF. Field effectiveness has not been evaluated.