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Practice games

Back to Back

Practice for beating a player in a 1v1 with a quick change of direction.

Practice 12 min 4 to 16 players Cage Half pitch 2016 to 2020

Me and My Ball Brave 1v1 Be brave

At a glance

  • A 10 m by 6 m pitch per pair, a cone 1 m behind each end line, the ball on one end line. Players 1 and 2 stand back to back in the middle.
  • On Go!, both run round the cone at the end they face. Player 1 faces the ball end: collect it and dribble for the far line.
  • Player 2 runs back from the far end to defend. Dribbling the ball over the far line scores 1.
  • Swap who faces the ball every go. After 5 goes each, change partners.
  • Progress 1: If player 2 wins it, they score by dribbling over the line player 1 started from.
  • Progress 2: The dribbler must do a fake or change of direction before crossing the line.

If it's not working: The defender can only move side to side.

Back to Back: set-up12End AEnd BGo! 1 runs round End A's cone, 2 round End B's.10 m by 6 m12End AEnd B1 dribbles for End B's line, 2 runs back to defend.
  • player 1
  • player 2
  • run
  • dribble

One pair's pitch, End A on the left and End B on the right, with a marker cone 1 m behind the middle of each end line. Top: the ball waits on End A's line, the two stand back to back in the middle, and on Go! each runs round the marker cone behind the end they face. Bottom: 1 collects the ball and dribbles for End B's line while 2 runs back from End B to defend.

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

Set up

  • Call the two ends End A and End B. Put the ball on the middle of End A's line.
  • Put a marker cone 1 m behind the middle of each end line, so End A's cone sits just behind the ball.
  • The two players stand back to back in the middle of the pitch: Player 1 faces End A, Player 2 faces End B.

One mini pitch per pair, 10 m long by 6 m wide (12 m by 8 m for 2017 and 2016), pitches 3 m apart side by side. Per pair: 4 cones for the corners, 2 marker cones (one 1 m behind the middle of each end line), 1 ball.

How to play

  • Player 1 shouts Go! and both players run to the end they are facing and around the marker cone behind it.
  • Player 1 collects the ball at End A and tries to dribble it over End B's line, while Player 2 comes back from End B to defend.
  • Swap who faces the ball every turn, and change partners after 5 turns each.
  • Each player counts their own successful dribbles out of 5 and tries to beat that number with the next partner.

Keeping everyone moving

Every pair has its own pitch and both players run every go.

Make it easier

  • The defender only moves side to side.
  • A wider pitch (8 m).

Make it harder, step by step

  1. If player 2 wins it, they score by dribbling over the line player 1 started from.
  2. The attacker must do a fake or change of direction before crossing.

Three things to say

  • Run at the defender to make them stop.
  • Change direction when they commit.
  • If you lose it, run straight back and have another go.

Colts habit

Be brave: run at the defender, and go again if you lose it.

Both feet

Change direction with the practice foot for a bonus.

Heads up

See which way the defender is leaning.

For your birth year

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

2018
As written.
2019 to 2020
The defender may only move side to side.
2016 to 2017
The attacker must stop the ball dead on the line with the sole to score. Pitch 12 m by 8 m.

Safety: Stay on your feet, no slide tackles. Keep pitches 3 m apart.

Keeping score: My successful dribbles out of 5, beaten with the next partner.