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Keep, Connect or Advance

U9–U10 · 60-minute practice

Explore and notice

Ready to start

10:00

Rest and transitions are included in each activity. Pause for additional breaks.

Next: Keep three routes available

Keep options, then use the opening.

Begin at walking pace in the numbered stations. Three players show a short support angle, a helper angle and a forward window; the carrier names what is currently available. Share the ball when needed; an observer watches the same decision and takes a ball turn on the next assigned round.

s42-arrival24 × 30 m clear area with a 2 m perimeter buffer. 2 numbered stations, 8 numbered player slots, 2 balls and 8 cones. Each station shares one ball and rotates roles; dashed arrow shows an example travel or pass route. Focus: Choose patient possession, a helper connection or a forward pass from the current space. Diagram shows starting positions, not fixed player locations. Three steps show decision game using the first round's numbered players. Solid gold routes show the ball; dashed pale routes show player movement; dotted blue routes show a shadow or defender. Routes stay inside each numbered station. 1. See the options: Look for a carry, pass or safe return. 2. Choose a clear route: Choose the route that is clear now. 3. Keep the next option open: Move to help the next player with the ball.Station 1Station 21357246824 × 30 m · 2 m perimeter bufferNumbered circle: player · small dot: ball · triangle: cone · dashed arrow: route1. See the optionscornercornercornercornergategategategateStation 1: #3: show a clear optionStation 2: #4: show a clear option13572468Ball 1Ball 2Look for a carry, pass or safereturn.2. Choose a clear routecornercornercornercornergategategategateStation 1: To #3: choose the clear ground passStation 2: To #4: choose the clear ground pass13572468Ball 1Ball 2Choose the route that is clearnow.3. Keep the next option opencornercornercornercornergategategategateStation 1: #1: offer the next optionStation 1: #3: look before the next actionStation 1: #3: keep the ball closeStation 2: #2: offer the next optionStation 2: #4: look before the next actionStation 2: #4: keep the ball close13572468Ball 1Ball 2Move to help the next playerwith the ball.Solid gold: ball · dashed pale: player · dotted blue: shadow / defender

Player arrivals and departures

Use anonymous numbers from 1 to 99. Changes take effect before an activity begins; each activity needs 4–16 players.

    Record an observation and choose the next practice