Air Force Drill

The coach blows the whistle and rolls out a ground ball to each wing. Players race to the balls, and whoever wins each ground ball immediately leads a 4v3 fast break toward their designated end of the field. The defenders sprint back to stop the attack, and play continues until there’s a goal, turnover, or the coach whistles the drill dead. Focus on quick pickups, fast ball movement, and communication. Attackers should exploit numbers advantage, while defenders practice sliding, coverage, and recovering under pressure. Variations let you adjust intensity and complexity: change the fast break setup, add or subtract players, bring in players from other areas, or allow the ground ball loser to chase, turning it into a 4v4. You can even have the chaser come from the opposite wing to keep players reading the play and reacting quickly.
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Related Drills
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Set up two lines of players at opposite ends of the field, with a goalie in each net, three attackmen, and three defenders at each end setup for a fast break (Attack in L shape, Defense in triangle). The drill begins when the goalies at both ends throw an outlet pass on the run to the line on their right (change to left as you see fit). The midfielder gets the outlet and pushes the 4v3 fast break, while the other line sends a chaser to the ball carrier. The drill continues until the fast break results in a shot or defensive stop.
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Set 10 offensive players (Player 1–10) vs. 10 defenders (Player 11–20) on a full field with nets at each end. Coach starts play with a ground ball, faceoff, or pass. Play continues until a goal, save, clear, or whistle. Encourage players to communicate, apply game-level intensity, and practice transitions, stickwork, and defensive positioning.
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