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Practice games

Man Marking Game

A 3v3 game where you may only tackle the player you are marking, so it is full of 1v1s.

Game 22 min 6 to 10 players Half pitch 2016 to 2017

Brave 1v1 Win It, Keep It, Score Off the Ball Be brave

At a glance

  • 30 by 40 with a goal at each end, no keepers. Two teams of 3, and each player picks one opponent to mark.
  • A normal game, scoring in the far goal. You may only tackle the player you are marking.
  • Tackle anyone else and the other team restarts with the ball on their own goal line.
  • Progress 1: Goals only count if the scorer shoots first time.
  • Progress 2: Keep that and add 10 seconds to score once you cross halfway with the ball.

If it's not working: A tackle on the wrong player is just a reminder: play on, no restart.

Man Marking Game: set-upmarking pair121 take on your marker, 2 nobody else may tackle.30 m by 40 m
  • blue team
  • yellow team
  • dribble
  • 1in this order

A normal game with a goal at each end, 3v3, blue attacking the top goal. Before the game each child pairs up with one opponent (the short dashed lines join the pairs). You may only tackle the player you are marking, so the child with the ball takes on their own marker and nobody else may step in. Tackle anyone else and the other team restarts from their goal line.

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

Set up

  • Mark an area 30 by 40 with a goal at each end. No keepers.
  • Two teams of 3 in bibs. Before the game, each player pairs up with one opponent to mark.

An area 30 by 40 with a goal at each end. With 8 to 10 children, play 4v4 or 5v5 and pair up in the same way.

How to play

  • Play a normal game, trying to score in the far goal.
  • You may only tackle the player you are marking. That makes lots of 1v1s, where players must dribble or defend on their own.
  • If you tackle a different player, the other team restarts from its own goal line.

Make it easier

  • A tackle on the wrong player is just a reminder: play on, no restart.
  • Before each game, partners high-five, so everyone remembers who they are marking.

Make it harder, step by step

  1. Goals only count if the scorer shoots first time.
  2. Keep that and add 10 seconds to score once you cross halfway with the ball.
  3. Every 2 to 3 minutes, swap who you mark.

Three things to say

  • Get away from your marker.
  • Take on your player.
  • Defenders: watch your player and the ball.

Colts habit

Be brave: enjoy the duel.

Both feet

Beat your marker with the practice foot for a bonus.

Heads up

See your marker and the ball.

The Colts change: Played as the booklet has it, but 3v3 with no keepers. With a keeper, a wrong tackle means the other team restarts from the keeper.

Safety: Pair players of a similar size and rotate often. Academy keeper safety rules apply.

Keeping score: 1v1s won against your marker.