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Practice games

Show Me Fingers

A 4v4 where shouting a signal player's fingers just before you receive doubles your team's next goal.

Game 20 min 10 to 12 players Cage Half pitch 2016 to 2017

Pass, Receive, Heads Up Lift each other

At a glance

  • 25 by 30 m pitch, 4v4, with a pop-up goal at each end. Two signal players (S) stand outside, one on each long side.
  • Play 4v4 and score in the other team's goal. Each S holds up 1 to 5 fingers whenever they like.
  • Shout the nearest S's number just before a pass reaches you. Your team's next goal then counts double.
  • Every 2 minutes, two players swap with the two S players.
  • Progress 1: A call only counts if your first touch then goes forward.
  • Progress 2: After your call, take two touches at most before you pass or shoot.

If it's not working: The coach shouts the number out loud as a hint.

Show Me Fingers: set-upSS4 fingers1231 S shows 4, 2 shout four asthe pass comes, 3 shoot for 225 m by 30 m
  • team on the ball
  • other team
  • Ssignal player
  • pass
  • shot
  • 1in this order

4v4 to a pop-up goal at each end, all eight players drawn. A signal player, S, stands just outside each long side and holds up one to five fingers whenever they like. The signal player on the right is holding up four. The blue player about to receive looks up and shouts four just before the pass arrives, so their team's next goal counts double, and they shoot.

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

Set up

  • Mark a 25 m by 30 m pitch with a pop-up goal at each end.
  • Two signal players stand outside, one on each long side.
  • Signal players change every 2 minutes.

4v4 plus 2 signal players, 25 m by 30 m.

How to play

  • Play 4v4 to the goals.
  • Signal players hold up 1 to 5 fingers at any time.
  • If a player shouts the nearest signal player's number just before receiving, that team's next goal counts double.
  • Two players swap with the signal players every 2 minutes.

Keeping everyone moving

Everyone rotates through signal and playing roles. Signal players move along the line and stay involved. Nobody is out.

Make it easier

  • The coach shouts the number out loud as a hint.
  • Bigger pitch.

Make it harder, step by step

  1. A call only counts if your first touch then goes forward.
  2. After your call, take two touches at most before you pass or shoot.

Three things to say

  • A quick look before the ball arrives.
  • Open body to see the pitch.
  • First touch towards space.

Words that work: "Great look before the ball!", "Brave to take it on the half turn!", "Your signal helped the whole team!"

Colts habit

Signal players cheer and coach teammates.

Both feet

Bonus for receiving with the foot furthest from a defender.

Heads up

The finger call.

For your birth year

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

2016 to 2017
As written.

Safety: Signal players stay 1 m off the pitch.

Keeping score: Each child counts their own calls in a game and tries to beat it next time. The coach never records looks.