AFL · Handball · Decision-making

Handball under pressure 3v1

Three attackers keep the ball by handball in a small square while one defender closes in and tries to touch it.

A1A2A3D
Start / 4
Time
12 min
Players
4–12
Age
U10+
Area
10 × 10 m square per group
Equipment
3 size 3 or 4 footballs8 cones3 bibs

Setup

  1. Mark a 10 × 10 m square with four cones for each group of four.
  2. Three attackers inside with one ball; one defender in a bib.
  3. Keep spare balls at a corner so play restarts fast.

How it runs

  1. The defender closes on whoever has the ball, who must handball within three seconds.
  2. The other two move to the open side to give a short, clear target.
  3. Count handballs in a row; a touch, a dropped ball or a ball out of the square swaps that player in as the defender.
  4. Play 60-second rounds, then rotate groups.

Coaching points

  • Hold the ball on the platform hand and punch through it with a clenched fist, following through to the target.
  • Look before the ball arrives so you already know where the free player is.
  • Receivers: move off the defender's line so the handball isn't going through them.
  • Get rid of it early and to the side away from the pressure.

Common mistakes

  • Receivers standing behind the defender, leaving no clear lane.
  • Throwing the ball instead of punching it.
  • Holding on too long and getting touched.

Say it: “Look, move to space, punch it to the open side.”

Make it harder

  • Shrink the square to 8 × 8 m.
  • Two defenders against three in a 12 × 12 m square.

Make it easier

  • The defender walks instead of running.
  • Five seconds to dispose instead of three.

Pairs well with

Reviewed by the Sportdify coaching team.