Zone 14 Strike Box

Develop the courage to play into the crowded central pocket in front of the penalty area (Zone 14) and the timing of arriving runs that finish from its edge. The decision: set the ball back for the strike, or spin and shoot yourself.

One full-size goal with a GK at the top of a 40x36 yard area. Mark a 16x9 yard cone rectangle — the strike box — straddling the edge of the penalty area, central. Two attackers start inside it, marked by two defenders, with a third defender covering in front of the GK. A feeder starts each rep from 35 yards with the balls; one midfielder waits deeper to arrive late.

1. The feeder plays into the feet of an attacker inside the strike box — passes around the box score nothing.
2. The receiver has two touches: set the ball back into the path of the arriving midfielder, or turn and shoot.
3. A goal finished first time from inside the strike box counts double; any other goal counts one.
4. Defenders are live the moment the feeder's pass is struck; if they win it, they counter to a halfway-line gate for a point.
5. Rotate feeder, box attackers and arriver every 4 reps; play first to 8 points.

• Pass into the box hard — a slow ball into traffic is a turnover.
• Receive side-on so one touch can become a shot or a set-back.
• Arriver: start your run as the set-back is cushioned, not before.
• Strike low through the ball — placement beats power from 18 yards.

• Feeders chip a soft, bouncing ball into the zone that defenders eat up — demand driven passes along the ground into feet.
• The set-back is rolled behind the arriving runner — cushion it into space in front of the run, like a hand-off.
• Shooters lean back and balloon the strike — get the head over the ball and punch through the laces.

• Add a fourth defender so the box is a genuine 2v3.
• Limit the arriving midfielder to one touch — the finish must be first time.
• Allow the feeder to join the attack after passing, making it 4v3.

• Make defenders passive for the first pass and touch.
• Enlarge the strike box so receivers have more room to turn.
• Remove the counter goal so defenders only clear.

• Every attack must touch the strike box before a shot.
• First-time finishes from the strike box score double.