Objective: To improve attacking and defending skills, both individually and as a unit. To practise overload situations (3v2, 4v3 etc) and improve decision making.
Age group: U10s and upwards.
Difficulty: Easy.
Set-up: Create a suitable size pitch with a goal at each end. For U10s, I would use a 40 yards long by 30 yards wide playing area.
Divide your players into two teams – an attacking team and a defending team.
The attacking team waits on the halfway line of the pitch. The defending team is spread out equally between each goal.
How to play:
- The attacking team decides which goal to attack how it wants to attack it.
- If attackers choose to go 1v1 (one attacker v one defender) and succeed in scoring, they get four points.
- If attackers choose 2v1 (two attackers v one defender), they get three points for a goal.
- 3v1 is worth two points per goal and 4v1 is worth one point.
- If a goal is scored, the attackers turn and attack the other goal. If they keep scoring, they keep attacking.
- If the attackers miss or a defender can win the ball and pass it to you, the attack is over.
- Play for a set number of attacks and change the teams round. The team with the most points is the winner.
Tip
To make the game easier for young players:
- Play without goalkeepers.
- Make the goals bigger.
- Stick to bigger overloads – 3v1 or 5v2 etc.
Progression
If the attackers cannot shoot within 30 seconds, allow another defender to join in.
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