5v5 Keep Away

I've been exploring the power of keep away games for a couple of years and the more I do it, the more I'm blown away by the environment.  A few weeks ago in my blog, I took a deep dive into the word "Fundamentals" since I had just published a Flying Solo Podcast on the topic. 

The main take away from this podcast and blog is this: fundamentals are not techniques, fundamentals are concepts. 

Taking this idea one step further, when a coach deems any skill or technique a "Fundamental" he/she is really just creating a "Fake Fundamental" which is defined as: a fundamental that isn't true, accurate or correct.

Think of any technique that one might consider to be a fundamental, such as: overhand passing, two hand ground balls, move your feet, stick vertical, be equal left and right, create separation, dodge with speed, etc.

Here is a list of Fundamental concepts players will learn in this environment:

  • Possess the ball
  • Ball pressure
  • Deny passes to off ball players
  • Defensive double teams and rotations 
  • Dodgers handling and baiting double teams
  • Playing with head up
  • Passing and catching under pressure
  • Getting open
  • Epic ground ball scraps
  • On ball and off ball 2man games
  • Stick protection
  • Baiting and deception
  • Off ball seals
  • Draw and dump
  • Slowing down under pressure

Players Learning Implicitly

Imagine this: if you run this 5v5 Keep Away you don't actually have to teach any techniques.  The skills and techniques will miraculously occur on their own.  Remember this, "Skills are solutions", but we don't want to give the players the solutions, we want to give them the problems and let them figure it out.  It's call implicit learning and it's powerful. 

"Every time you work on or #Rep a skill in any structure, you are taking away the problem solving opportunity for the players and you are literally teaching them to fit a square peg in a round hole."

The amazing thing I've found from both the boys (below) and girls keep away is many of the so called fundamentals take care of themselves with no coaching and no prompting.  For example, I have never told the players to put their stick in the "Box Area" yet they are giving a target in open space every time!  The environment is truly creating the player.  There is no coaching necessary!

Rules:

  • 13 yard x 13 yard area
  • 1 point for a completed pass
  • 2 points for a double team that causes a turn over
  • Play out ground balls in bounds
  • Play to 21