Find the bib – playing in four dimensions

• The defenders in white have different coloured bibs
• After making a touch, if the defender is the ’drop off’ colour, they run to one of the cones at the end of the box before joining back in
• If touched, the ball carrier goes to ground and presents the ball

Outcomes and developments

I have found that alternating the bibbed players who drop off makes the attackers scan for that colour and should create more ball movement.

Initially, I found this game has the non-bibbed team always attacking. So I added the rule that, if there is any turnover, the bibbed team have one phase to score. If they do score, they get five points as it is harder.

Turnovers come from picking up dropped balls or intercepting passes. I feel the turnover is very important, as it is one of the best times to attack and move the ball to space. Most of the time you have an advantage and hopefully broken field.

To add more movement and space, the attacking team is allowed to kick, which adds another possible turnover element.

Tactics

Ideally, let the players come up with what tactics work, though they may need a nudge.

We have started to get the bibbed team, when possible, to alternate colours in the defensive line. This makes the defenders aware of what is around them, as this is important when defending in a match. 

I would add this in when your players get to grips with the game and its rules.

When possible, give each team time to talk tactics – not for too long, maybe 30 seconds, to replicate the amount of time they have to talk in a game.

Maybe get a player to pretend to be injured and see if players talk tactics. Or stop the game and call in one player per coach – give them some information, but check to see if the other players are talking to each other at the same time. 

This makes it game-related, as players should be passing information to each other about the other team.