Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Small Group Games

2v2 Gates Game

Organisation:

• Coach can start activity in number of ways. Attacker starts; defender plays to attacker to start or the coach plays in the ball.
• Attacking team look to score in either opponent gate by dribbling through it.
• Once attacking team scores, both teams leave the field and 2 new teams replace them.
• If the defending team win the ball, they look to transition and score in the opposite gates.. 

Modify:

• Give bonus points for a goal scored when the ball has been passed to a teammate.
• Change direction players start in (here they run to the gate to the left, rotate to the gate to their right)

• Play with head up - scan
• Soft touches
• Attack the space
• Change of speed/direction to unbalance defender

• Nearest player presses
• 2nd player covers/gives balance
• 'High to low' & 'Fast to slow' on approach to the attacker
• Show wide/away from goal

• Quick reaction to transition
• Can we pass forward/score quickly (attack)
• Can we regroup quickly (defence)

Questions:

• How can you create space for your teammate on the ball?
• What sort of movement or run can you make?
• Where is the space on the field?
• Which defender should press first and why?
• What is the other defender doing?

2v2+1 Game

Organisation:

• Coach can start activity in number of ways. Attacker starts; defender plays to attacker to start or the coach plays in the ball.
• Attacking team look to score in either opponent goal while using their teammate on the outside to assist.
• Once attacking team scores, both teams leave the field and 2 new teams replace them.
• If the defending team win the ball, they look to transition and score in the opposite goals. 

Modify:

• Can make 3v3/4v4.
• Give bonus points for a goal scored when the ball has been passed to a teammate.
• Add offside/scoring zones which the attacking team must enter to score. 

• Play with head up - scan
• Soft touches
• Attack the space
• Change of speed/direction to unbalance defender

• Nearest player presses
• 2nd player covers/gives balance
• 'High to low' & 'Fast to slow' on approach to the attacker
• Show wide/away from goal

• Quick reaction to transition
• Can we pass forward/score quickly (attack)
• Can we regroup quickly (defence)

• How can we use the outside teammate?
• How can you create space for your teammate on the ball?
• What sort of movement or run can you make?
• Where is the space on the field?
• Which defender should press first and why?
• What is the other defender doing?
• If you win/lose the ball, what is your first reaction? What type of run will you make?

Protect the Middle

Organisation:

• 10mx10m
• 4 attacking players keep the ball away from the defender while attempting to knock down one of the cones in the middle area.
• Challenge the defender to protect the cones in the middle.
• Rotate defender/piggy every 30 seconds.

Modify:

• Make area smaller if players are finding it too easy.
• Add an additional defender to increase difficulty(4v2)

• Play with head up - scan
• Quality passing - accuracy, weight, timing
• Pass with inside of foot
• Body Shape when receiving
• Make the area as big as possible

• 'Fast to slow' & 'High to low' on approach
• 'Screen' or 'block' the passing lanes

• How can we improve our chances of knocking a cone down?

Bench Ball

Organisation:

• Coach can start activity in number of ways. Attacker starts; defender plays to attacker to start or the coach plays in the ball.
• Attacking team look to score by passing it into their teammate in the end zone.
• Once a team scores/concedes, they rotate the end zone player.
• If the defending team win the ball, they look to transition and score in the opposite end zone.

Modify:

• Can make 3v3/4v4.
• Give bonus points for a goal scored when the ball has been passed to a teammate/wall pass or overlap.

• Play with head up - scan
• Combination play
• Attack the space
• Change of speed/direction to unbalance defender
• Movement from target player in the end zone

• Nearest player presses
• 2nd player covers/gives balance
• 'High to low' & 'Fast to slow' on approach to the attacker

• Quick reaction to transition
• Can we pass forward/score quickly (attack)
• Can we regroup quickly (defence)

• How can you create space for your teammate on the ball?
• What sort of movement or run can you make?
• Where is the space on the field?
• Which defender should press first and why?
• What is the other defender doing?

3v2 to 3v3

Organisation:

• 1 large goal with a GK and two mini-goals are placed at the opposite end. 
• The 3 attacking players start the attack and look to score on the main goal.
• If the 2 red defenders win back the ball they look to transition and score in one of the mini-goals. 
• Allow both teams a turn at attacking and defending. 
• Rotate the GK.

Modify:

• Give bonus points for a goal scored using a combination (1-2, overlap etc.)
• Have another red defender waiting to make a recovery run as the blue attackers pass the halfway line. 

• Play with head up - scan
• Width & Depth
• Engage 1st defender to create space
• Attack the free space
• Change of speed/direction to unbalance defender
• Movement/Positioning of support players.

• Look to isolate attacker on the ball.
• Show away from goal/teammate.
• Don't dive in, look to delay, force a mistake. 
• Support of covering defender - positioning

• Quick reaction to transition
• Can we pass forward/score quickly (attack)
• Can we regroup quickly (defence)

• How can you create space for your teammate on the ball?
• What sort of movement or run can you make?
• Where is the space on the field?