Show Me Fingers
A 4v4 where calling the signal player's fingers just before you receive doubles your team's next goal.
4v4 to goals with a signal player on each long side holding up one to five fingers for the team on the ball to call out.
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 calls the number just before receiving, that team's next goal counts double.
- Signal players swap in and out 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 calls out the number as a hint.
- Bigger pitch.
Make it harder
- Two signal players on the same side.
- Only the receiver may call.
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.
- 2018 to 2021
- Not used.
- 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.