Drills / Team practice
The game
Finish every session with a real game, in the format your players play on match days.
- Players
- Everyone
- Space
- Your format's pitch, or a smaller one
- Kit
- 2 goals, bibs, balls
- Time
- 20 minutes
- Age
- All ages
Set up
- Set up a pitch for your format. With 12 players, play 6v6 rather than having children waiting to come on.
- Two smaller games are better than one big one if numbers allow.
How it works
- Let them play. Keep the talking short and the breaks for water.
- Add one condition linked to the session, such as a bonus goal for beating a player 1v1 before scoring.
What to work on
- Praise the brave decision, even when it doesn't come off.
- Ask questions rather than giving orders: "Where was the space?"
- Everyone plays the same amount.
Easier
Uneven numbers to help the weaker team, or a neutral player.
Harder
Fewer touches, or a smaller pitch.
Planning a whole session? The session planner builds one around this kind of practice.
Try next
Drills that work the same skills.
game · 15 min · 8 to 12 (4v4 to 6v6)
End-zone game
Score by dribbling into the end zone, or by receiving a pass in it. Encourages running with the ball and forward passes.
game · 15 min · 6 to 10 (3v3 to 5v5)
Four-goal game
Each team attacks two goals on the far corners. When one goal is crowded, switch the play to the other.
possession · 18 min · 8 to 14
Switch it
A game with two wide channels. A goal counts double if the ball has been through both wide channels in the move. It teaches players to move the ball to where the other team is not.
possession · 12 min · Groups of 7
Rondo: 5 against 2
Five keep the ball from two. The two defenders must work together: one presses, the other cuts out the pass through the middle.