Equipment Needed
- Balls
- Cones to mark lanes
Mark the riding lanes
A set of field cones makes it easy to lay out consistent lanes for a full team riding structure.
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- Set up a full riding unit against a clearing team with a goalie.
- Assign specific roles: first pressure on the ball, passing-lane coverage on the nearest outlets, and a player denying the primary release valve.
Instructions
- The first rider pressures the ball carrier immediately, influencing their direction toward a trap area.
- Passing-lane defenders deny the easiest, safest outlet passes rather than chasing the ball themselves.
- The designated outlet-denial player specifically shadows the clearing team's best or most-used release valve.
- If the ride forces a turnover, transition immediately into a fast-break attack.
Coaching Points
- Every rider needs a clear, specific job — a ride with everyone just "chasing the ball" rarely creates real turnovers.
- Communication about who has first pressure and who's covering which lane has to happen before the clear even starts.
- This system should adapt to the specific clearing team's tendencies — discuss what you've seen them do in games or scouting.
- A disciplined ride that occasionally lets a clean clear through is often better than one that gambles and gives up easy transition offense.
Variation
Run it against a scouted opponent's specific clearing patterns, or add a numbers-down riding scenario (fewer riders than clearers) to raise the difficulty.