SET UP
Small sided pitch (appropriate to age/numbers)
3 equal teams (can work 4 teams if necessary)
Grid (2x2m with 5 footballs)
Teams are split giving 3 roles: Goalkeepers (blue), Attackers (purple) and defenders (yellow)
Attackers must use 1 ball at a time and try and score, they may attack either way. Equally defenders must defend both ends. When the ball goes off, start again.
When all balls are “dead” start again, and rotate roles.
Goalkeepers must be rotated every ball.
VARIATIONS
Keep score, how many goals can you score with 5 balls?
Defenders can tackle and attack the opposite end, starting a 5v5 match.
Teams play against each other, award a bonus 2 goals for the team that uses all 5 balls first. This encourages quick play and increases the rate the players must make decisions. Be careful that winning isn’t the focus of the session, it should be a product of development and doing it right.
COACHING POINTS
Decisions – when to pass, when to shoot, when to dribble?
Spatial awareness – which way should we attack? How shall we set up to defend?
Speed of play – Are team looking to penetrate quickly (score) or do they over play and pass too much?
NOTES
Language to use with children….
Instead of balls, call them lives. We have 5 lives, how many times can we score?
Play quickly, how quickly can we score?
Allow each ball to be started by a new player, don’t let one player dominate the session.
Player centered, player driven..
Allow each colour to have one “practice” before you coach, this will highlight what you need to coach. Sometimes we can be guilty of creating a session, and coaching what we’ve planned, which might not be what the players need. Allowing them to play, will show you what you need to coach.
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