Match-related activities move players into gamelike environments. It's the coach's responsibility to modify environments so that the desired skill-in this case, passing-is emphasized; players need to get as many passing reps as possible. Match-related activities are critical to player development because they promote opportunities to execute a skill under realistic pressure and time constraints. These activities ensure that a technical player (one who has the ability to execute the technique) becomes a skillful player (one who can make effective use of technical abilities during games). This match-related activity, called End Zone Game, focuses on making the final pass, which is typically one of the more difficult passing situations in a match.

End Zone Game

Purpose: To help players develop pace, accuracy, and timing of passes-especially the final pass into the end zone.
Procedure: Players are divided into two even teams. (Neutral players can be used to create less pressure and more opportunities for possession and making the final pass.) The two teams play to an end zone on each end of the playing area. A point is scored when a team plays a pass into the end zone that a teammate is able to run onto and receive in the end zone. The player is not allowed to enter the end zone prior to the ball, forcing the passer to play a ball with the proper pace or bend to allow the teammate a chance to possess the ball in the end zone. A defender can follow a player into the end zone and win the ball for the defending team. If an attacking player strips a defender in the end zone, the attacking team continues to play but must pass the ball out of the end zone and then find a teammate running into the end zone in order to score.
Coaching Points: All of the technical elements (body position, contact point, and so on) are still correctable, coachable movements. Watch for the timing and weight of the pass into the end zone. Usually, the service into the end zone should be bent so that the ball remains in the end zone for a player to run up to or chipped so that the ball passes over the defense.
Variation: A team scoring in one end zone maintains possesion to attempt to score in the opposite end zone. This is a great modification for working on transition and getting into attacking formation quickly. Players are forced to play in different areas of the field because the players who naturally float to the defensive end will be on attack as soon as the direction changes. This modification is difficult for younger players because the direction of attack changes frequently, which can cause confusion.