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Practice games

Three Castles

2v2 where you score by dribbling through any of three castle gates on the far line.

Game 15 min 4 to 16 players Cage Half pitch 2016 to 2019

Brave 1v1 Be brave Lift each other

At a glance

  • 2v2 on a 20 m by 15 m pitch with one ball. Each end line has three cone gates, called castles.
  • Score by dribbling through any castle on the far end line. A pass through a castle does not count.
  • Pass to your teammate anywhere else. If the defenders win it, they attack the other end.
  • After a goal, the other team dribbles in from its end line. Play 3 minutes, then move one pitch round with new partners.
  • Progress 1: Close the middle castle: two gates to aim at.
  • Progress 2: Also, the last touch before the castle must be the practice foot.

If it's not working: Wider castles, or add an extra castle.

Three Castles: set-up1231 run at them, 2 pass, 3 dribble through a castle.15 m by 20 m
  • your team
  • other team
  • dribble
  • pass
  • 1in this order

One pitch, 2v2, with a cone at each corner and three castles (blue cones) on each end line. The child with the ball runs at a defender, passes to their teammate, and the teammate dribbles through a castle at the far end to score. Passing through a castle does not count.

Full details: set up, how to play, tips and age tweaks

Set up

  • Mark pitches 20 m by 15 m with a cone at each corner.
  • On each end line, make 3 castles (1.5 m cone gates), in a second cone colour if you have one.
  • Put 2v2 on every pitch.
  • With an odd number, add a joker in a different colour who plays for whoever has the ball.

2v2 on 20 m by 15 m pitches, set out side by side.

How to play

  • Attack the 3 castles at the far end.
  • You score only by dribbling through a castle, never by passing through.
  • Passing to your teammate is allowed anywhere else.
  • After a goal, the other team dribbles in from its end line.
  • Games last 3 minutes.
  • Everyone moves one pitch clockwise and partners change by lucky dip.

Keeping everyone moving

Every child plays in every game, with no finishers waiting. Jokers handle odd numbers.

Make it easier

  • Wider castles, or add an extra castle.

Make it harder, step by step

  1. Close the middle castle: two gates to aim at.
  2. Also, the last touch before the castle must be the practice foot.

Three things to say

  • Choose a castle and change your mind with a fake.
  • Run with the ball into space.
  • Defenders stay on their feet.

Words that work: "Brave dribble!", "Top effort defending together!", "Great shout for your teammate!"

Colts habit

Defend as friends.

Both feet

Finish with the practice foot.

Heads up

Spot the unguarded castle.

For your birth year

Pick a birth year to show the tweak for that group.

2020 to 2021
2v2 on 15 m by 10 m with 2 wide castles.
2018 to 2019
As written.
2016 to 2017
25 m by 18 m. A pass to your teammate first counts as a bonus.

Safety: Leave 3 m between pitches. No slide tackles.

Keeping score: Not needed. Team castles only.