Objective: To improve passing and receiving skills, teamwork and defending.
Age Group: U6s to U10s.
Number of players: Twelve (but is easily adapted for larger or smaller squads).
Equipment required: Some flat cones, training vests, one ball.
Set-up: Create a 20×15 yards playing area with six small gaps around the edges (the “pockets”) as shown below.
Split your players into two teams of six.
How to play: Both teams try to gain possession of the ball and pass it (or shoot) into a pocket.
If a team pots a ball, it keeps possession and tries to score again.
If a player kicks the ball “off the table” or commits a foul, possession goes to the other team.
The first team to score eight (i.e. seven reds and a black) wins the game.
Tip: If your players are finding it difficult to “pot the ball”, make the pockets bigger.
If players find it hard to keep possession long enough to pot a ball, make the playing area bigger.
Progression: Play with two balls.
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