Develop decision-making by teaching players when to pass or carry based on support position and available space.
- Lift head before making any decision
- Identify space and support position
- Pause briefly to avoid automatic actions
Head Up Scan
Link: Establish awareness before introducing decisions.
- Support player rotates between behind, level, and ahead
- Carrier reads position and chooses pass or carry
- Emphasize correct decision over speed
Support Position Decision
Link: Introduces decision-making based on support.
- Support player changes position during the rep
- Carrier must continuously reassess decision
- Encourage scanning before and during movement
Moving Support Lane
Link: Develops dynamic decision-making.
- Two attackers vs one passive defender
- Support varies position (behind, level, ahead)
- Carrier decides based on defender and support
Guided 2v1 Decision
Link: Applies decisions under simple pressure.
- Apply decision-making in small-sided play
- Encourage scanning before every action
- Reinforce correct choices over outcomes
Short Game Decision Play
Link: Combine awareness and decision-making in play.
¶ Exit Standard
- Looks up before making decisions
- Chooses appropriately between pass and carry
- Adjusts decisions based on support position
- Avoids automatic or rushed actions
- Head up before action
- Scan for space and support
- Do not rush decisions
- Support behind = likely carry
- Support level = option to pass or carry
- Support ahead = look to pass
- Avoid overthinking
- Choose first clear option
- Commit to the decision
- Head up
- What do you see?
- Pass or carry?
- Don’t rush
- Make a decision
- Head down – Reinforce scanning before action
- Automatic passing – Ask player what they saw
- Hesitation – Encourage committing to first option
- Ignoring support – Highlight support position
- Keep pressure low initially
- Stop and question decisions when needed
- Reinforce correct choices, not just outcomes
- Ensure clear spacing between players
- Increase speed of support movement
- Add light defensive pressure
- Reduce time available to decide
- Keep support static
- Remove defenders
- Slow tempo of drills