This
game encourages players to shoot from a distance and to follow up on
their shots. It is suitable for players aged from about eight or nine
upwards.
Set
up: This game is played on a short, wide pitch. For U10s, I
would use a playing area 30 yards wide and 20 yards long.
Place
a goal on both ends of the playing area and mark out a halfway line with
flat cones.
How
to play:
Set up a small-sided game of
5v5.
Each
team has three defenders, one attacker and a goalkeeper.
The
three defenders start the game in their own half and cannot go over the
halfway line. The attacking players start in their opponent's half of
the pitch and they can't cross the halfway line either. So
each team has three defenders and one attacker who play in opposite
halves of the pitch.
Key soccer coaching
notes:
The
can't cross the halfway line clause encourages the defensive
players to take shots on goal from their own half of the pitch
(remember, they are only 10 yards away from their opponent's unguarded
goal) and attacking players should follow up on the defenders' shots in the
hope of getting a touch or taking advantage of a fumble by the goalie.