Equipment Needed
- Balls
- Cones to mark clearing lanes
Setup
- Defense and goalie set up in their own end with a ball; attackers set up as a simulated ride (pressure) at the restraining line.
- Mark the midline clearly so players know when possession is considered “cleared.”
Instructions
- The goalie makes a save (or starts with the ball) and immediately looks for the first open outlet pass.
- Defenders spread the field wide to create clear passing lanes, staying spaced rather than bunching near the ball.
- Move the ball quickly through 2–3 passes to advance past the riding pressure and across the midline.
- Once cleared, reset with a new group of riders and rotate roles so every player practices clearing under pressure.
Coaching Points
- Spacing is everything — defenders who stand too close to each other give the ride only one pass to take away.
- The first pass out of the goalie's hands should go to the most open outlet, not automatically to the strongest defender.
- Look up field early; a clear that only looks for the safe short pass will stall out against good riding pressure.
- Communicate loudly — call for the ball and call out where the pressure is coming from.
Variation
Start the ride with numbers down (e.g., 3 riders vs. 4 clearers) to build confidence before running it even, or add a shot-clock-style time limit to simulate real game pressure.