Brave Play Between Boxes

Encourage players to become confident, creative dribblers in and around the penalty area. The aim is to develop bravery on the ball, improve 1v1 execution, and create a mentality of attacking defenders directly in goal-scoring moments.

• Set up a 7v6 game across two-thirds of the pitch • One team (green) can only score by dribbling, and are not allowed to pass - they must take defenders on • The other team (black) plays normally, using both passing and dribbling • Goalkeepers are active and play as normal • Switch roles at halftime so both teams experience the constraint Constraints and Progressions: • Add bonus points for players who beat two or more defenders before scoring • Allow defenders to press high to increase difficulty and realism • Encourage immediate transitions: if the defending team wins the ball, can they break and score quickly?