Boxes Warm-up: Challenging Players to Think (NSCAA Newsletter) - NASL Drills - Best source for soccer coaches in the world

Quite often when players are asked to warm-up among themselves passing and moving they do so without a purpose. This warm up exercise ask players to play quickly and smartly based on the coach's directions.

In a 50 x 35 yd area divide into 6 boxes (see diagram). Players need to understand all boxes are not the same size which will affect the activity.

6 players in red, 6 in blue, 6 in yellow. 1 ball per box.

Have players pass and move within their box with coach giving specific patterns and movements. I’ve listed some that will challenge players not only technically but will challenge the players off the ball as well.

All 1 touch passing using color scheme for sequence (example red to blue to red to yellow). Yellow needs to support ball as it moves between red-blue.
Change number of touches (example: 2-2-1 1st player takes two touches then passes to next player who takes two then finally into a 1 touch pass, repeat sequence without stopping).

How do players off the ball move to support knowing 3 of the touches of the person in possession? How does one move to support a one-touch pass? Preparation of 1st touch to play 2nd touch passes.

Variations

Ask 1 color from each group to move to another box after playing a pass (Example: Yellows play 1 touch then immediately joins another group of red-blue).
Ask players to switch balls between the boxes.
Have players leave a ball in box and quickly find another box, once all in begin play.
Have all single colors join to form a group of three, thus 2 boxes of all blue, 2 of all red, 2 of all yellow.

Several coaching points that can be stressed here in order to be done successfully:

Recognition of space and other players
Movement off ball
Communication
Vision
Technique of passing for possession

By asking your players to think while executing quality passing is relative to the game and one that can be fun at the same time. Be creative in challenging players by mixing up the “play” based on your directions. Good luck!