Pagan's Paddock

Focus

Skills under pressure, Forward line delivery, Gameplan/Strategy.

Skills

Kicking, Handballing.

Purpose

Deliberately keeping the forward line open provides players with space to run into when in possession. Dennis Pagan was credited with creating this classic maneuver, and your team can practice breaking into space in this 6-on-5 contest.

Players

11⁺

Ages

13⁺

Balls

Cones

Distance (max)

70m

Opp. tops

Visible opposition strip: 5

Setup
Extend the centre square with 2 more cones, the last 2 cones about 25m from goal. Only half of the center square is in play. A team of 6 attackers and an opposition team of 5 defenders start inside the active area of the center square.
Step 1
An attacker starts with the ball on the wing edge of the square and must start by kicking to a player inside the center square. The objective is to eventually kick to a player who has lead inside the 50m arc.
Step 2
The attacking team must attempt to work the ball around the active playing field using short passing and handball.

Defenders can either tackle, or you may want to make it less intense by allowing defenders to only apply token pressure
Step 3
At any time, a player may move into the 50m arc to lead for the ball. However if they are covered by a defender and their lead is ignored by the kicker, the attacker must move out of the 50m arc immediately

Keep switching and use the free player to good effect through hard running
Step 4
Finally, when a lead inside 50 is made by a player who has found some space, honour the lead. If the player marks, they take a set shot for goal, otherwise re-start.

Defenders should try to spoil the mark if the kick isn't right.
Step 5
Rotate the attackers after every turn if numbers permit, and defenders after several turns.