Beat the lone runner

WHY USE IT

Lots of passing practice doesn’t reward accurate passing. Unless the pass isn’t executed well, the passing group won’t beat the lone runner.

set up

Six cones and one ball.

HOW TO PLAY

ACTIVITY: Set up as in the first illustration. Though the players here are 2m apart, adjust the distances to suit your players. The ‘runner’ starts by passing to the first player in the line. They then sprint around the back and towards the gate inside the final receiver. The runner aims to get through this gate before the last pass is made to intercept the pass (see the middle illustration). Meanwhile, the other players pass the ball along the line, aiming for the ball to reach the end receiver before the runner gets around to the last gate.

DEVELOPMENT: Develop by having the passers moving forward as they pass (see bottom illustration).

COACHING POINTS

• Hands up to receive the ball.
• Keep the ball off your chest.
• Follow through to the target.

ACTIVITY

• The lone runner passes the ball to the first player. Restart if it’s a poor pass
• Have three passers on the cones (here 2m apart)
• Lone runner aims for a cone between the three passers and a final receiver

• The lone runner aims to get into the gap before a pass to the last receiver
• Adjust this position to suit your players’ skills

DEVELOPMENT

• The lone runner has to run behind the passers to beat them to the last pass
• Once the pass is made, the three passers move forward
• The faster the passers move forward and pass laterally, the better their chances of winning