Hunger Games

A competition drill to develop a competitive draw team!

Description of Drill: The original and simple version is a 2v2 ground ball scrum inside the center circle. The circle is a starting point, not a boundary. You can also build up to a 3v3 to mimic the draw. 

A coach will roll (toss, bounce, etc.) a ball within the circle. Once the ball is released, the players are released. X’s are working together and O’s are working together to each gain possession. 

You can play this quickly with many reps (5-8 min) for possession only within the 2v2. This works well for small roster numbers or when running two drills at once. 

The ball always starts with a coach within the circle and the coach can decide when to call it done and reset.

Variation(s): You can build up to adding one or two connected passes in the 2v2 or 3v3, or demand a team to double if they do not gain possession; which are both non-directional. A third variation is to then assign a direction to your 3v3; either to a fast break 4v4 (you can add pressure on the gk).  

Equipment Needed: Balls, ball distributors

Skills Emphasized: Fighting hard to gain possession to 50/50 balls, finding the tenacious/scrappy players for the s=circle, helping your players utilize space(or take it away) with or without the ball.

Coaching Points of Emphasis: Working on-off ball communication, not running into your teammates in small space, stick protection within pressure, using big space to advantage, and decision-making in the midfield.

Diagram of Drill: