Supporting Pairs

Focus

Skills under pressure, Defensive, Hard Running, Front & Square, Decision Making, Run & Carry, Forward line delivery.

Skills

Handballing, Crumb, Mark Contest.

Purpose

When running the ball out of defense, movement to the open side is the clearest path to goal. This drill has various stations with 2 running players as options for a marking player, simulating transition from defense to attack.

Players

12⁺

Ages

9⁺

Balls

1⁺

Cones

Distance (max)

160m

Opp. tops

Visible opposition strip: 2

Setup
If you have less than 26 players, use 1 ball and pick 4 marking options and 1 defender. 26+ players, use 2 balls and pick 8 marking options and 2 defenders. Marking options and defenders spread out amongst stations A - D. Other players form pairs at stations 1 - 4. Stagger the cones on stations 1 - 4 so the player who runs boundary side is closer to the next contest.
Step 1
Starting from just behind station (1), coach begins by kicking the ball to (A) who leads hard from the goalsquare
Step 2
(A) marks about the 35m from goal and has the choice of 2 runners from station (1), one of whom he handballs to.

Encourage players to provide a backdoor option on most occassions, even though this requires harder running.
Step 3
The player from station (1) who receives handballs to the other player they are paired with, who runs bouncing if necessary before kicking long to leading player (B)

Marking players on stations A - D return to the same station for another lead

Running players on stations 1 - 4 rotate to the next set of cones
Step 4
Player (B) marks and has running options from station (2) to give to. He hits one up with a handball, the other runs hard to receive the next handball from their partner, before kicking to leading (C).

Optionally, leading (C) has a defender who starts on the goalline (or closer for greater difficulty and more crumbing). This defender attempts to spoil, then abandons the contest
Step 5
The exercise is mirrored back up the ground, with 2 players from station (3) providing options for (C), then station (4) providing options for (D).
Step 6
Swap the marking options and defender(s) every few minutes. Optionally, you may want to have a defender at station (A) as well.