Voicing Metres in the Clear

Focus

Skills under pressure, Run & Carry, Forward line delivery, Gameplan/Strategy.

Skills

Kick Long.

Purpose

Often it's advantageous for players to run their full distance or even bounce before kicking, as the team gains ground without putting the ball in dispute. This drill has teammates assist runners with voice so they know how far they can run before needing to kick.

Players

18⁺

Ages

11⁺

Balls

1⁺

Cones

Distance (max)

110m

Setup
If you have up to 30 players, just use one half of the ground; with 30+ split into two groups on opposite halves. Form even numbers at each station, with cones (B) and (C) about 10m apart.
Step 1
Coach starts by kicking to (A) who leads and marks. (A) then backpedals until they reach the cone. Once the cone is reached, (A) is allowed to handball centrally to (B) who runs past.
Step 2
As soon as (A) handballs, (C) takes off in chase of (B). While (B) chases, (A) runs with (B), watching (C)'s progress and informing (B) with voice how much time/space they have. (A) could simply shout 'Clear!' or 'Kick it!', however instructions like 'Keep running you got 5!' provide better information.

The purpose is to let (B) gain maximum distance without kicking and putting the ball in dispute. This makes forward targets easier to hit.

Once (C) has gained enough ground where (B) is in jeopardy of being tackled or put off their kick, (B) shouts 'Kick it!'

If (C) reaches (B) they should attempt to put them off their kick with a touch or light push.
Step 3
(B) kicks to leading (A) who on the opposite diagonal. The drill is the repeated back up the ground, i.e. (A) marks, backpedals, and once they reach their cone, can handball infield to (B) who is immediately chased by (C) once the handball is executed.

After their involvement (A) and (B) do a u-turn and return to the same end, joining (B) and (C) consecutively

Chaser (C) continues down the opposite end and joins (A).