Double Trouble
3v3 with two balls live at once, so everyone keeps switching between attacking and defending.
3v3 to pop-up goals with two balls live at the same time.
Set up
- Mark a 20 m by 15 m pitch.
- Put a pop-up goal on each short end.
- Give each team a bib colour and put 2 balls in the middle.
3v3 (run 2 pitches for 12 children); 20 m by 15 m per pitch.
How to play
- Play 3v3 with both balls live at the same time.
- Score in the other team's goal with either ball.
- After a goal, the team that conceded restarts that ball with a dribble from their goal.
- If a ball goes out, dribble it straight back in.
- Play 4 minutes, then change pitches or teams.
Keeping everyone moving
With two balls, every child is always either attacking or defending. There are no keepers and no waiting.
Make it easier
- A bigger pitch.
- Wider goals.
Make it harder
- Add a third ball.
- Only goals scored with a player's other foot count double.
Three things to say
- Looking up to see both balls.
- Choosing which ball to go for.
- Switching straight to defending.
Words that work: "Great switch!", "Brave to go for it!", "Nice help for your mate!"
Colts habit
Lift each other, call Ball! to warn a teammate.
Both feet
Score with either foot.
Heads up
Where is the other ball?
For your birth year
Pick a birth year to show the tweak for that group.
- 2017
- 4v4 on 25 m by 20 m.
- 2020
- Use a bigger pitch, and the coach restarts balls.
- 2018 to 2019
- As written.
Safety: Two balls raise the risk of bumps, so keep 3v3 and pop-up goals pegged down.
Keeping score: Each child counts how many times they helped win a ball back and tries to beat it next round.