Back Door Goals
Goals sit 5 m in from the end lines and you can score from the front or the back.
Goals 5 m in from each end line with space all round; you can score through them from the front or from the back.
Set up
- Mark the pitch.
- Place each pop-up goal 5 m in from each end line, so there is space all round it.
- Each team attacks one goal and defends the other.
3v3 or 4v4; 25 m by 20 m (older 30 m by 25 m).
How to play
- Play a normal game.
- You can score through the goal from the front or from the back.
- After a goal, the team that conceded restarts with a dribble from beside its goal.
- Balls out of play come straight back with a dribble.
- Play 4 minutes, then swap goals.
Keeping everyone moving
Play flows all round the goals, so defenders must turn and recover and there are no dead spots or keepers.
Make it easier
- Wider goals.
- A larger pitch.
Make it harder
- A back-door goal counts double.
- Use two touches only near the goal.
Three things to say
- Switching sides of the goal quickly.
- Defenders staying between the ball and the goal.
- Spotting the open side.
Words that work: "Brave to go round!", "Great recovery run!", "Nice pass to your mate!"
Colts habit
Work hard to get back round the goal.
Both feet
Finish from the side of your other foot.
Heads up
Check which side of the goal is open.
For your birth year
Pick a birth year to show the tweak for that group.
- 2020 to 2021
- Not used.
- 2018 to 2019
- 3v3, a bigger goal.
- 2016 to 2017
- 4v4 with the 30 m by 25 m pitch.
Safety: Peg pop-up goals down and keep 5 m clear round them. No diving at the goal.
Keeping score: Each child counts how many times they recovered to guard the goal, compared with last time.