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Practice games

First-Time Finishers

A partner serves from a different angle every time and the striker shoots first time, calling the foot.

Practice 12 min 8 to 12 players Cage Half pitch 2016 to 2018

Shooting and Scoring Leading Be brave

At a glance

  • Pairs, each with a goal. The striker stands on a disc 6 m out, with server discs left, right, back, and straight by a post.
  • The server rolls the ball in by hand from one disc. The striker calls Left! or Right! for the foot and shoots first time.
  • The striker follows in. The server moves to a different disc for every serve.
  • Swap jobs after 6 strikes.
  • Progress 1: After serving, the server steps in as a defender who blocks but does not tackle.
  • Progress 2: The server now bounces the ball in, below knee height.

If it's not working: Let the striker take a touch to control the ball before shooting.

First-Time Finishers: set-up1231 serve, 2 shoot first time, 3 follow in.10 m by 10 m
  • striker and server
  • run
  • throw or roll
  • shot
  • 1in this order

One pair's 10 m by 10 m area. The striker stands on the disc 6 m out. The four server discs are left, right, back, and straight, which sits on the goal line beside a post, out of the way of the shot. The server rolls the ball in by hand from one disc, the striker calls Left! or Right! for the foot, shoots first time and follows in. The server moves to a different disc for the next serve.

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

Set up

  • Give each pair a goal and a 10 m by 10 m area. Set the areas in three rows of two, 3 m apart, with each goal on an outside edge so no pair shoots towards another.
  • Mark a striking disc 6 m from goal.
  • Put four server discs round the striker: left, right and back, and the straight disc on the goal line beside a post, out of the way of the shot.

12 children in 6 pairs, each with its own goal and a 10 m by 10 m area. Three rows of two areas with 3 m gaps, 23 m by 36 m in all.

How to play

  • The server rolls the ball by hand to the striker from one server disc.
  • The striker shoots first time, then follows in.
  • The server moves to a different disc for every serve.
  • The striker calls Left! or Right! before striking, to say which foot.
  • After 6 strikes, swap roles.

Keeping everyone moving

Each pair has its own goal and two balls, so there is no waiting.

Make it easier

  • Let the striker take a touch to control the ball before shooting.
  • Serve more slowly.

Make it harder, step by step

  1. After serving, the server steps in as a defender who blocks but does not tackle.
  2. The server now bounces the ball in, below knee height.

Three things to say

  • Open your body to the goal.
  • Strike the ball low.
  • Follow in.

Words that work: "Brave first-time strike!", "Great call on the foot!", "Lovely serves for your partner!"

Colts habit

Leadership, servers help set their partner up.

Both feet

The call decides the foot.

Heads up

Look at the goal before the ball arrives.

For your birth year

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

2016
6 to 7 m, first time, and the server can call the foot.
2017
6 m, first time.
2018
5 m, two touches allowed.

Safety: Pairs keep 3 m apart. No keeper.

Keeping score: How many of my 6 strikes were on target? Beat it next time.