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new indoor 5 v 5 format?

Does any one have any ideas on structure for the new 5 v 5 indoor format?

Lisa NayTeacher, Australia

1 answer

ANSWERS

Mick MasonCoach, Australia

G'day.

My under 16 boys are doing well with a 2 man press up front, with the inside man on the press staying back a bit to discourage the diagonal pass. The front man in the press applies a bit of pressure. Behind the press one of the backs is responsible for the boards shot, just zone marking the opp' forward so that he can't receive it up the boards, and the other back is marking the other forward, again to discourage the diagonal pass. This leaves the man with the ball an obvious out to the other back and if he takes it we just slide and do the same thing on that side.

We don't mark or press the other back, every time one of the boys tries the diagonal pass is used to eliminate him. If that opp' back moves up the press can intercept a pass to him so he tends to stay back and wait for a square pass.

If the opp' forward that is behind the press runs down into the middle of the field and gets in front of the other forward the back that was marking that off side forward moves up and marks him. The other back (behind the press) lets him go and stays in touch with the boards so the off side opp' forward doesn't slide over to receive a quick pass up the boards.

During attack we have a shape like an upside down capital Y, two backs, a center and a forward. The center and the forward are leading to try and get either the diagonal pass (which the forward MUST run to meet) or the pass up the boards. Which ever side the ball is on when it gets up to the forwards the other side back slots in to the center to support while that side back stays back, making a lower case y (with the ball up the short arm).

The hardest part by far has been getting the boys to forget about themselves having positions but think about the team having responsibilities and getting them to slide into a different job as the play changes. Lots of talk on the field helps, as well as plenty of 3 x 3 games at trainings.

The new format is making everyone think a lot harder, and run more.