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Recover the Ball

U9–U10 · 60-minute practice

Explore and notice

Ready to start

10:00

Rest and transitions are included in each activity. Pause for additional breaks.

Next: Lose and return

Recover toward the target you protect.

Begin at walking pace in the numbered stations. Point from a still ball to the target being protected, then walk to a position between them. Share the ball when needed; an observer watches the same decision and takes a ball turn on the next assigned round.

s16-arrival24 × 30 m clear area with a 2 m perimeter buffer. 4 numbered stations, 8 numbered player slots, 4 balls and 12 cones. Each station shares one ball and rotates roles; dashed arrow shows an example travel or pass route. Focus: Regain a useful position after losing possession. Diagram shows starting positions, not fixed player locations. Three steps show turnover recover using the first round's numbered players. Solid gold routes show the ball; dashed pale routes show player movement; dotted blue routes show a shadow or defender. Routes stay inside each numbered station. 1. Change possession: A gentle pass announces a change of ownership. 2. Recover the middle: Former attackers recover centrally; the new carrier waits. 3. Set the new roles: Protect the direct route while the new carrier waits.Station 1Station 2Station 3Station 41526374824 × 30 m · 2 m perimeter bufferNumbered circle: player · small dot: ball · triangle: cone · dashed arrow: route1. Change possessioncornercornercornercornergategategategategategategategateStation 1: To #5: gentle pass changes possessionStation 2: To #6: gentle pass changes possessionStation 3: To #7: gentle pass changes possessionStation 4: To #8: gentle pass changes possession15263748Ball 1Ball 2Ball 3Ball 4A gentle pass announces achange of ownership.2. Recover the middlecornercornercornercornergategategategategategategategateStation 1: #1: recover to the central target routeStation 2: #2: recover to the central target routeStation 3: #3: recover to the central target routeStation 4: #4: recover to the central target route15263748Ball 1Ball 2Ball 3Ball 4Former attackers recovercentrally; the new carrierwaits.3. Set the new rolescornercornercornercornergategategategategategategategateStation 1: #1: take the new nearest position without challengingStation 2: #2: take the new nearest position without challengingStation 3: #3: take the new nearest position without challengingStation 4: #4: take the new nearest position without challenging15263748Ball 1Ball 2Ball 3Ball 4Protect the direct route whilethe new carrier waits.Solid gold: ball · dashed pale: player · dotted blue: shadow / defender

Player arrivals and departures

Use anonymous numbers from 1 to 99. Changes take effect before an activity begins; each activity needs 4–16 players.

    Record an observation and choose the next practice