Stoppages around the ground

Setup

1. Five a side: a ruck, three mids and a sweeper. The coach is the umpire.
2. Cone three stoppage spots: a boundary throw-in on the wing and a ball-up in each pocket.
3. Each team attacks its own goal from every stoppage.

How it runs

1. The coach throws the ball in from the boundary or throws it up at a ball-up spot.
2. Play runs until a team clears the ball 20 m from the stoppage or kicks a goal; a clean clearance scores 1.
3. Move to the next stoppage spot straight away so players learn to set up quickly.
4. Swap rucks every three stoppages and rotate who plays sweeper.

Coaching points

• At a throw-in the ruck taps forward and away from the boundary, never back toward the line.
• Mids set up with jobs: one at the drop of the ball, one running past, one goal side.
• The sweeper sits behind the stoppage on the defensive side and stays there until it's cleared.
• Set up fast and talk: every player calls their role before the ball goes up.

Common mistakes

• The sweeper gets drawn into the stoppage and leaves the back open.
• Mids stand still waiting for the tap instead of moving to the ball.
• Rucks tap to the boundary side, where the ball goes straight out again.