One of two pitches 3 m apart; 3v3 with no keepers, spare balls by each goal, and points for brave shots, goals and other-foot goals.
Set up
- Mark two pitches side by side, 3 m apart.
- Put one pop-up goal at each end of each pitch.
- Put spare balls by each goal.
12 children as two 3v3 games side by side, each 20 m by 15 m (25 m by 20 m for 4v4 with 2017s and 2016s).
How to play
- Play 3v3 with no keepers.
- Scoring: a brave shot that does not score gets 1 point. A goal gets 2 points. A goal with your other foot gets 3 points.
- The coach calls the points out loud so everyone hears.
- When the ball goes out, restart at once with a spare ball from the goal.
- Play 4-minute games, then swap opponents.
Keeping everyone moving
Small teams and quick restarts. No one sits out, and finishers rotate straight in.
Make it easier
- Make the goals wider with cones.
- Allow a free player who plays for whichever team has the ball.
Make it harder
- Only first-time goals get 3 points.
- Add a shooting zone: you can only shoot from inside it.
Three things to say
- Shoot when you see the goal.
- Follow in.
- Use the other foot when the ball is on that side.
Words that work: "Great decision to shoot!", "Brave with the other foot!", "Brilliant pass to set up your mate!"
Colts habit
Be brave, points for trying.
Both feet
Other-foot goals get top points.
Heads up
Look for the shot before you dribble.
For your birth year
Pick a birth year to show the tweak for that group.
- 2018 to 2019
- 3v3, no keepers.
- 2016 to 2017
- 4v4 on 25 m by 20 m, and a volunteer keeper is allowed using the keeper safety rules (8 m line, shots below the waist).
Safety: Keep a 3 m gap between the pitches. With keepers, the keeper safety rules apply: 2016s and 2017s only, volunteers only, shooting line at least 8 m out, shots count only below waist height, side-foot passes only inside 4 m, nobody shoots when the keeper is down.
Keeping score: How many brave shots did I have this game? One more next game.