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Practice games

3 Zone Defending

A 3v3 on a pitch split into three lanes, where the team without the ball learns to close down and cover.

Game 22 min 6 players Half pitch 2016 to 2017

Win It, Keep It, Score Off the Ball Work hard

At a glance

  • 30 by 40 pitch split into three lanes of 10 m lengthways, a goal at each end. Two teams of 3, no keepers.
  • A normal game: score in the far goal.
  • When the other team has the ball, your nearest player closes it down. The next nearest covers, standing behind and one lane across.
  • The third player holds the far lane. When the ball moves, the jobs change.
  • Progress 1: While the other team has the ball, all three of you must be back in your own half.
  • Progress 2: While defending, you can't have a player in all three lanes at once: squeeze across to the ball side.

If it's not working: Each attacker stays in their own lane, so it is clear who closes down and who covers.

3 Zone Defending: set-up121 the nearest closes down,2 the next covers behind.30 m by 40 m
  • blue team
  • yellow team
  • run
  • 1in this order

A normal game, 3v3, on a pitch split into three lanes lengthways, blue attacking the top goal. The picture is about the yellow defenders: the nearest one closes down the child with the ball, a teammate covers behind in the next lane, and the third holds the far lane. The lanes show the defenders how far apart to be.

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

Set up

  • Mark a pitch 30 by 40, split into three lanes of 10 m lengthways, with a goal at each end.
  • Two teams of 3 in bibs. No keepers.

A pitch 30 by 40 split into three lanes of 10 m.

How to play

  • Play a normal game, scoring in the far goal.
  • When the other team has the ball, your nearest player closes it down: get close, stay on your feet and slow it down.
  • The next nearest stands behind them, one lane across, to cover if they are beaten. The third player holds the far lane.
  • When the ball moves, the jobs change. The lanes show you how far apart to stand.

Make it easier

  • Each attacker stays in their own lane, so it is clear who closes down and who covers.
  • Narrow the pitch to 21 m wide, so defenders have less ground to cover.

Make it harder, step by step

  1. While the other team has the ball, all three of you must be back in your own half.
  2. While defending, you can't have a player in all three lanes at once: squeeze across to the ball side.

Three things to say

  • Nearest one, close down.
  • Next one, stand behind and cover.
  • Talk to each other.

Colts habit

Lift each other: cover your teammate when they close down.

Both feet

Win the ball with either foot.

Heads up

See the ball and your lane.

For your birth year

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

2016 to 2017
Use a bigger pitch, 40 by 60, as the booklet has it.
The Colts change: Played as the booklet has it, but 3v3 on a smaller pitch with no keepers. Swap who plays at the back every few minutes so everyone defends.

Safety: Keep the area clear of bags and bottles. Stay on your feet, no slide tackles. No heading. If a keeper is used, follow the academy keeper safety rules for the age group.

Keeping score: Times you win the ball back together.