The images this week are from our book, 'Coaching Soccer Through Small-Sided Games'
Game One Play 6 v 6
Following six passes, the team in possession may score in any of the four goals.
Progressions
- Score in any one of the four goals with no conditions
- Hit the back of the net without the ball bouncing
- Can only score with a one-touch finish
Game Two
The game is limited in time to three minutes. One team (dark team) is given possession and their task is to maintain possession for the three minutes. Should the other team gain possession, then they are limited to two-touchand four passes before they can score, with a one-touch finish, in any of the four goals. Following every goal, the dark team regains possession.Repeat the game with the white team having possession and the dark team trying to score as many goals as possible within the three minutes. The team that scores the most goals in the three minutes wins.
Coaching Points
- The best way to stop the other team from scoring is to keep the ball for as long as possible within the three minutes.
- First touch, passing ability and movement off the ball are crucial to the success of keeping possession
- Encourage good habits of communication
General Coaching Points For Game One and Two
- Passing awareness - encourage the players to ‘have something in mind’ before they receive the ball
- Encourage as many ‘give-and-go’s’ as possible in order to achieve a better position to pass again or to shoot
- Man-for-man Marking - highlight staying with the runners and to ‘switch on’ as soon as possession is lost
- Communication - highlight the importance of good communication in terms of who matches up with who
Depending on your theme and focus, you can get several sessions from this basic organization.
