Guard the Castle
Focus of the Drill
This drill is designed to be a fun game as it is a game with only a few players in each group. It mainly focus is on passing in numbers up situations. This drill has been made especially with younger kids in mind, and they will love it!
Drill Setup
You have to set up a grid with the size of 12 X 12 yards. After that, you have to begin splittin the team into small groups of four. One of the players in each group wears an alternate jersey and is then referred as the defender of the castle. After this, you have to take a ball and place it on the top of a disc cone in the middle of the grid. If you do not have disc cones, a tall cone will work. Now the grid has become a castle.
How to Play?
It is dependent on the 3 attackers to pass the ball around the defender in the grid to knock the castle down with a pass. When the ball is knocked off the cone or the tall cone is knocked down with a pass, the castle is said to be knocked down.
Different Versions
There can be a tiny amount of changes made within the game depending on the age and skill of the team. You can remove the 12 x 12 grid limitations, or make the grid smaller. In case the players are standing next to the cone, a 3x3 grid can be built and no players should be allowed to step in. You can also ask the players to make a certain number of passes before they are allowed to knock down the castle. This game can be played 1v1 too.
Coaching Points
As a coach, you have to advise the players to keep their heads up to find the pass. Keep an eye on the players so they pass the ball with proper weight on the ball. Keep in mind that the players should move around the grid in order to find open space. The players should know it is ok to dribble the ball into space towards the defender before making a pass.