3 v 1 in the Square

How to run it

Three attackers in the corners of a square and a defender in the middle. The player with the ball always has two passing options, because the player diagonally opposite moves to the free corner next to the ball. Trains passing, moving without the ball and reading the defender.

Set-up

A six-by-six-metre square with discs in the corners. Three attackers (blue) in three corners, a defender (red) in the middle. No. 1 has the ball.

Instructions

1. 1Three attackers in three corners, the defender in the middle. No. 1 has the ball.
2. 2The defender pressures no. 1 and closes the pass along the side to no. 2.
3. 3No. 1 passes to the open side, to no. 3.
4. 4No. 2 is now diagonally opposite and moves to the free corner next to the ball. The defender runs at no. 3.
5. 5No. 3 passes to no. 2.
6. 6No. 1 moves to the free corner. The defender chases.
7. 7No. 2 passes to no. 1.
8. 8No. 3 moves to the free corner. The defender pressures no. 1.
9. 9No. 1 passes along the side towards no. 3 – the defender reads it and steals the ball.
10. 10Swap: the red player takes the corner with the ball and no. 1 goes into the middle as the defender.
11. 11No. 3 moves to the free corner. Red passes to no. 2 while no. 1 pressures.
12. 12No. 2 passes to no. 3. Count passes in a row – ten in a row scores a point.

Coaching points

• Don't stand still in a corner – move so the ball handler always has two options.
• Fake before you pass: look one way, pass the other.
• Use your pivot to get away from the defender.
• The defender pressures with active hands and closes one passing lane at a time.
• Change defenders after a steal or after 45 seconds.

Variations

Equipment

• 4 × Markers