5-on-4 Scramble
Exploit (and defend) a numbers advantage with real spacing.
What this drill teaches
Spacing made visible. With a defender guarding two attackers, big gaps produce open shots and cramped spacing kills them — so the value of staying wide stops being coach-talk and becomes obvious. The defenders get an equally real scramble workout.
In games: Cures the bunching that strangles young offences, and builds the talk-help-recover scramble your defence needs whenever it's outnumbered in transition.
- Big gaps held — attackers not drifting toward the ball
- One extra pass chosen over one extra dribble
- Defenders sprinting closeouts and talking non-stop
U12: drop to 4-on-3 and expect crowding around the ball. U14–U16: expect patient corner-to-corner swings and defenders competing to keep their spot.
Equipment
1 ball, half court
Setup
Five attackers around the arc, four defenders.
Steps
- 1Offence keeps great spacing and moves the ball.
- 2Find the defender who's guarding two — attack the gap.
- 3Defenders talk, help, and recover hard.
- 4Reset and swap the odd defender each rep.
Coaching points
- Space the floor — big gaps.
- One extra pass beats one extra dribble.
- Defence: sprint to close out.
Why kids love it
Great for teaching both spacing on offence and scramble defence at once.
Variations
Use 4-on-3.
Offence must touch both corners before anyone shoots.
The defender who gives up the shot steps out and a fresh one comes in.