Defense and Offensive Play Creation

Objective: Improve individual and team defense, and refine offensive plays under pressure.

1. Dynamic Warm-Up (10 minutes)

• Description: Start with dynamic stretches to improve mobility and flexibility, followed by a fast-paced ground ball drill to activate the players for quick movements.

• Warm-up:

  • Estiramientos Dinámicos y Movilidad : Focusing on general mobility to prepare the muscles for action and improve range of motion.

  • Figure-Eight Relay : A drill designed to enhance ball collection and stick control while moving, with an emphasis on quick transitions and spatial awareness.

    • Dynamic stretches help improve mobility and flexibility, reducing the risk of injury during high-intensity drills. The Figure-Eight Relay drill is particularly useful for improving agility, ground ball collection, and the ability to control the ball while moving at full speed. This drill also improves hand-eye coordination and quick decision-making when under pressure.

2. Defensive Skills

Drill options:

• Drill 1: High Five Shuffle Defensive reaction drill:
  A lateral shuffling drill designed to improve the defensive player's ability to react quickly and perform checks while maintaining proper positioning.

• Drill 2: Inside out Defensive one on ones:
  A one-on-one drill focused on improving individual defensive skills, such as positioning, body control, and anticipation of offensive moves. The drill emphasizes forcing attackers wide and protecting the goal area.

  • The Inside Out Defensive One on Ones drill is essential for improving individual defensive technique. It teaches players how to stay balanced, use their body to shield the attacker, and force offensive players to the outside, reducing their scoring opportunities. This drill also emphasizes footwork and positioning, two key elements in effective one-on-one defense.

3. Offensive Play Creation

Drill options:

• Drill 1: Meatloaf: A Passing Drill Focused on Angles:
  Players work on passing the ball at different angles while under pressure. The drill emphasizes decision-making, precision, and creating offensive opportunities through well-placed passes.

  • This drill improves passing accuracy and decision-making under pressure. By practicing passes at varying angles, players learn to read the defense and find the best passing lanes, creating more offensive options and opportunities to score.

• Drill 2: Quick Hitch C-Cut Drill:
  A drill focused on improving offensive players' ability to make quick, precise cuts and create space for themselves, enabling better offensive opportunities and passing lanes.

  • The Quick Hitch C-Cut drill develops offensive players' cutting skills, which are critical for getting open and receiving passes. Quick, sharp cuts allow players to create separation from defenders and find space for a shot on goal. This drill also emphasizes timing and coordination with teammates, enhancing overall offensive flow.

• Drill 3: Star Passing Drill (5 minutos):
  A short, intense drill to focus on passing precision and communication while moving in a star pattern. The drill simulates game situations where players need to pass and cut quickly.

4. Offensive Transition

Drill Options:

• Drill 1:RLine Possession Drill:
  A drill designed to improve ball possession during offensive transitions, where players work on maintaining possession while moving the ball quickly and efficiently.

  • The RLine Possession Drill is essential for teaching players how to maintain possession during fast breaks and transitions. It helps players develop patience and decision-making skills while moving the ball up the field, ensuring they don’t rush into bad shots or turnovers. This drill emphasizes the importance of controlling the tempo during transition plays and finding the best scoring opportunities.

• Drill 2: 4 pass to a 5v4 break (5 minutos):
  A fast-paced drill that simulates a transition from defense to offense, where the offensive team has a numerical advantage (5v4). The focus is on quick ball movement and taking advantage of the man-up situation.

  • The 4 Pass to a 5v4 Break drill is designed to improve players' ability to transition quickly from defense to offense and capitalize on a numbers advantage. This drill encourages quick passing, intelligent decision-making, and the ability to exploit an offensive opportunity when outnumbering the defense.

5. Situational Play (15 minutes)

• Drill: Back to Back 3v3 :
  A competitive small-sided game in which players play consecutive 3v3 games, emphasizing creativity, teamwork, and quick decision-making in tight spaces.

  • The Back to Back 3v3 drill encourages players to be creative and adaptive in game situations. It emphasizes offensive and defensive decision-making in tight spaces, and helps improve teamwork and communication. This drill simulates a real-game environment, pushing players to think quickly, work together, and react to changing scenarios.

Benefits of the Session:

This session targets both defensive and offensive skills, with a strong focus on improving transitions and decision-making under pressure. The Figure-Eight Relay helps players improve their ball-handling and agility, while the High Five Shuffle and Inside Out One on Ones drills sharpen defensive reactions and positioning. The Meatloaf Passing Drill and Quick Hitch C-Cut Drill develop offensive skills, including passing accuracy, cutting, and creating space. The transition drills, such as the RLine Possession Drill and 4 Pass to a 5v4 Break, help players maintain control and capitalize on fast breaks. Finally, the Back to Back 3v3 drill offers a competitive, game-like scenario to encourage creativity, teamwork, and fast decision-making.

By the end of this session, players will have improved their defensive skills, offensive play creation, and ability to transition quickly and efficiently between offense and defense. They will also be better equipped to handle high-pressure situations in game scenarios.