Hi Gareth,

Positional discipline is a difficult concept especially for young players and may take a long time to instil. Rather than hard and fast "rules" I would try to work on some principles that they can recognise and self organise in games.

One of the practices I have used in the past is a non directional grid practice marked out with flat markers (if you have them).

Designed to have people spread out, - working on a 20 x 20 grid (flex depending on numbers)  with markers forming squares of say, 5 yards/metres (would be a 4x4 grid meaning 16 squares in all). Have players bibbed in three colours.

Pass and move -  Use multiple balls (flex for numbers) Try to be in a different box than other players - Try to decide where you are going to pass the ball before you receive it

Challenge 1 Pass to and receive from any colour

Challenge 2 Blue receives from Red and Blue can only pass to Yellow - Change the order

Challenge 3 Blue and Yellow play to keep the ball away from Reds. Switch round; so Reds and Blues keep the ball away from Yellows etc I would do this as a timed exercise rather than a forfeit and give each team pair a chance to get their passing rhythm.

Questions: What are the benefits of spreading out? What difficulties do you have if you are in the same grid or one next to a team mate? If you are trying to get the ball back, is it easier if you spread out or if you are closer together?

For the out of possession team have a target goal or two that they can shoot / pass the ball into if they win it from the in possession team.

For a game you can create a pitch that has 3 or 5 channels up and down the pitch and three thirds going across the pitch. The principle of the game is when you are in possession Try to play in 3 or 5 if you can (channels and thirds - spreading out) and defend in 2 (channels and thirds - getting compact and restricting space) for the team out of possession.

Relate position to the ball and opponent. Out of possession - if you can't pressurise the ball can you position to intercept the next pass...etc. Takes a while (multiple sessions) but the game related exercise I have found useful at different ages.

The grid practice can be used as an arrival activity / technical practice moving into a skill related practice without having to change the markers.

Hope that helps.

Thanks Stephen, that's super useful

Thanks Stephen, that's super useful