The original Reset Game was submitted by Coach Carey in New Zealand)
This modified version of the Reset Game is for two teams of four players.
I’ve used it with my U13s girls to good effect. It really did show them the benefits of constant movement and making angles so they can receive passes. It also sharpened up their first touch.
Age range: U9s to U14s.
Number of players: Eight.
Set-up: Place three small cone goals randomly in a 30-yard square.
Divide your squad into teams of four. Two teams per playing area.
The two teams spread out and you give one team a ball.
How to play: The team with the ball has to complete three passes before it can score in one of the cone goals.
The passes must involve all four players, i.e., player 1 passes to player 2, who passes to player 3 who passes to player 4.
If, for example, player 2 passes back to player 1 it doesn’t count towards the team’s three passes.
However, pass backs may be used (and should be encouraged) if the third or fourth player isn’t in a good position to receive the ball.
Players must not allow the other team to touch the ball and they can take as long as they like to make their three passes.
If an opposing player does touch the ball, however slightly, yell “Reset!”
Possession is then given to the other team who must now make three passes in order to score.
As soon as one team scores, it gets to keep the ball and try to make another three passes. The game does not stop.
Coaching notes
1. Players should see they need to create angles in order to receive passes. If they don’t, ask them if it’s a good idea to form straight lines if there is an opponent standing between two of their own players.
2. After a while the better players will start to see that the last player to receive the pass is the most important and they will need to mark him well in order to disrupt the passing sequence.
3. They should also begin to understand the need to control and shield the ball effectively. Ball retention is absolutely encouraged. “Hoof it and hope” definitely does not work in this game.
4. You need to keep your players moving – the team in which one player stops moving usually loses.
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