Tag Archives for " Small-Sided Games "

2 Defending Small-Sided Games and Drills Competition

We recently asked coaches to submit their favorite defending drills and small-sided game. We picked one from all the entries as the winner and the coach received a $200 gift certificate to our site. The winner was Gabriel Celante for his Transitional Defending Game. Here's a look at the game.

Transitional Defending Game
This Transitional Defending Game focuses on developing and practicing defending cooperation, defensive pressure, and specific decision making while defending. This small sided game also focuses on developing transition to

0 Small-Sided Games in Training

Small-sided games are a great tool for player development. But as with any tool they must be used correctly to achieve the best results. It's not enough to create two teams of eight and drop a ball. The more specifically you design the game, the more your players will benefit. Most coaches will choose a

0 Coaching the 4-2-3-1 Training Games

By Stevie Grieve, Author of Coaching the 4-2-3-1, Modern Soccer Tactics and Winning Soccer Tactics. Grieve is the author of the "original" Coaching the 4-2-3-1 book and has now authored a book that focuses on the advanced tactics of the 4-2-3-1.  This article is from the free eBook, Small-Sided Games to Train the 4-2-3-1.  This eBook is given free

0 Unique Small-Sided Games

I continue to run one practice per week outdoor with my older teams during the winter months when weather permits. This means that we are often training when the it’s pretty cold. On very cold days I organize small-sided games to keep the players moving and loose. They get a lot more out of playing

0 Training a Team with Two Goalkeepers

This is the first time I’ve coached a team with two players that think of themselves as full-time goalkeepers. We came to an understanding before the season began as to how playing time would be divided. We also decided which events they would have a chance to play on the field when they were not

0 Training a Team with Two Goalkeepers

This is the first time I've coached a team with two players that think of themselves as full-time goalkeepers. We came to an understanding before the season began as to how playing time would be divided. We also decided which events they would have a chance to play on the field when they were not in goal. In other events they would play one half in goal and not play in the other half.

This has worked well in large part because everyone has known what to expect and there have been no surprises. I also think it has been very good for both goalkeepers because there is an element of competition that

0 Unique Small-Sided Games

I continue to run one practice per week outdoor with my older teams during the winter months when weather permits. This means that we are often training when the it's pretty cold. On very cold days I organize small-sided games to keep the players moving and loose. They get a lot more out of playing games than they would if I tried to coach specific concepts.

Playing small-sided game should not be a matter of dividing up into two teams and throwing the ball out. My favorite small-sided games are those that

0 November Magazine Preview

Each month we add a new magazine update to the Member Drills Database. The magazine contains training sessions, videos and articles presented by top teams and coaches from around the world.

Here's part of a training session presented by Chelsea FC Academy coach Chris Woodword. The session focuses on 1 v 1, 2 v 1 and 2 v 2 situations that lead to a zonal game.

0 Encouraging Combination Play

For me, the beginning of the season revolves around getting a group of players to work together within a framework of a system. Lately that system has been the 4-3-3. This involves teaching each player the role and responsibility of their position: How the defenders work together to stop attacks and win the ball. How the midfielders connect the team together. How the attackers create goalscoring opportunities. All of this gives the players a starting point but the most important learning comes next.

Helping the players to think and act creatively within the framework of the system is what will

0 Developing Anaerobic Capacity using 1 v 1 Small Sided Games

By Justin Cresser Author of Total Soccer Conditioning: A Ball Orientated Approach

Small sided games are paramount for the development of youth players and the 1 v 1 variation is the simplest form. 1 v 1 situations occur frequently throughout the game, especially in the wide areas of the field, and being able to both defend and attack in these situations are key to the performance of the team. Playing in 1 v 1 encounters requires great speed, footwork and dribbling ability. In fact, many coaches believe that whoever wins the most 1 v 1 battles is likely to win the game.

Today’s exercise focuses on developing anaerobic capacity using a 1 v 1 small sided game with some simple modifications.

Set-up and Directions:
Divide your players into groups of 6 (preferably) or 8 players. For each group, set up the following station: Set up a 15 by 15 yard grid. Place two goals (1.5 yards in width) on both the top and bottom end lines so that each goal is 1 yard in from the sideline. For each grid/group, have half your players line up on the bottom end line and the other half on the top end line so that they are in line with the centre of the grid. The coach should stand on the side with a large supply of balls (Figure 1).

Play is initiated by the coach shouting either ‘One!’ or ‘Two!’ When he shouts one, the players at the

0 3v3 Small-Sided Game to Goal

Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter.  Today’s featured activity is a 3 v 3 game to one goal.

Start with a 40 x 30 grid with a goal in the middle made up on cones or flags.  A keeper is in the goal and a server is off the field with some balls.  There are 3 players for each team

Each team is assigned an attacking side of field and that is the

0 A Small-Sided Game With a Twist

Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter.  Today’s featured activity is a small sided game with a twist.

Start with a keeper in goal, 2 attackers and 2 defenders.  The attackers and defenders start around the 12 yard spot.  A server starts with balls around 30 yards out.

In this example, the black team is attacking and

1 Integrating Short Sprints into a 3 V 3 Small-Sided Game

By Justin Cresser

Playing a 3 v 3 small-sided game (SSG) is an excellent way to improve the anaerobic endurance of your players. It is also an excellent way to work on basic group defending and attacking. However, by making one simple modification you can get all the technical and tactical benefits of a normal 3 v 3 SSG and also target starting speed as well as acceleration. This exercise also places a greater emphasis on the anaerobic component.
Set up a 20 by 20 yard playing area. Place two small goals (1.5 yards apart) on the end line at the bottom of the playing area.  Each goal should be 1 yard in from the closest sideline (Figure 1). Have 3 players stand a few yards apart, 10 yards behind the end line with the goals. These are your defenders. Have another 3 players stand a few yards apart on the end line at the top of the playing area. These are your attackers (Figure 1).

Play starts with one of the 3 defenders playing a hard pass along the ground to any of the 3 attackers. As soon as

0 Using Small-Sided Games to Develop Players

Most coaches use small-sided games as part of their training sessions. Sometimes this is limited to a 10 minute scrimmage at the end of the session.

During the spring season I will often run an entire session that revolves around two or three small-sided games to reinforce technical or tactical topics that we have covered a number of times during the fall and winter. As the session continues the players move in and out of the two or three different games. Each one has a slightly different challenge for the players to solve. The players enjoy the change of pace and the games help the players connect the skills we've developed to the game itself.

I'm always on the lookout for games that are a bit different. A book that we recently released has given me a number of good games that my players have really enjoyed.  Check it out here.

Developing Creativity Through Small-Sided Games, is written by Brazilian soccer coach, Eduardo Andriatti Paulo. He feels that the Brazilian system has moved away from

1 Adding Structure to a Small-Sided Game

Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter.  Today’s featured activity simply involves adding structure to a small sided game.

Frequently a team will end a training session with a small sided game.  They might play 7 v 7 including keepers

Instead of doing it this way, consider putting them into positions and

0 Anaerobic 4v4 Small-Sided Game

Here is a 4 v 4 game working on target player and transition while giving a nice anaerobic workout.

This activity uses half a field with a full sized goal and a keeper in goal. Two players start in the D and 3 yellow and 3 black players start at midfield. A coach starts at midfield with a ball.

The coach calls either “yellow” or “black” and whichever color he calls is the

0 4 v 4 Game Environments

During the winter season my older teams continue to practice outdoor one day per week. As I've mentioned before, we're fortunate to have one of the best turf field complexes in the nation with 12 lighted fields. So with the only weather that will stop us from practicing is ice or snow.

Since many of our training sessions will be in pretty cold conditions, I tend to play a lot more small sided game tournaments during the winter. The players enjoy this practice format and it keeps them moving so the cold is less of an issue.

We have three different books that I look to for new ideas when it comes to small-sided games. One of them is 'Coaching Soccer Champions'. The author, Terry Michler, is the winningest high school coach in the country. He's been the Head Coach

4 A 5v2 Small-Sided Game With a Twist

Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter.  Today’s featured activity is a 5 v 2 game with a twist.

In a typical game of 5 v 2 the movement is limited to a couple of steps in any direction to change the angle of support.  The only players doing a lot of movement are the defenders.

In this modified version of 5 v 2 there is a lot more movement and players have to

0 Small-Sided Game With Aerobic Conditioning

Here is an aerobic activity incorporated into a small sided scrimmage.

This is a 5 v 5 game plus keepers on a field 36 yards lone and 44 yards wide.  There is a full sized goal on each endline.  There are 3 cones 5 yards outside of each sideline.

A server starts with balls around midfield and calls “go”.  Upon hearing “go” each field player must sprint around the

1 Conditioning Within a Small-Sided Game

Here is an interesting 3 v 2 exercise which, when done at full speed works on attacking, defending and a lot of fitness.

The game is on a 40 x 30 grid with full sized goals and a keeper in each goal.  One attacking player is at midfield with two defending players.  Two attacking players are on the end line.  There are players ready to take each players position.

One keeper starts with a ball and starts by rolling the ball into the targets feet.  The two other attackers join

1 Integrate Conditioning Into Small-Sided Games

Today I’m going to show an other interesting way to integrate soccer fitness into small sided games and activities.  There are many other options shown in the DVD Modern Soccer Conditioning: Fitness with a Technical and Tactical Element.

This is a 7 v 5 game plus keepers on half a field.  There are two fill sized goals and one team is working on attacking and the other team is working on defensive shape and counter attacks.

The players start on the field and each of the attackers is assigned a number from 1-7.  There are 7 balls on the sidelines.

To start the game player 1 on the attacking team sprints to the

0 Creativity Through Small-Sided Games

For over 20 years I have coached teams of all ages and abilities from U6's to U18's and from recreational teams to national champions.  And over the years, my coaching philosophy has steadily changed to using more small-sided games in my training sessions...and for the better.

I find that not only do players prefer to play small-sided games, they are a better way of teaching skills, technique and tactics than typical soccer drills and exercises.

Small-sided games also allow players to express their creative side much more than when standing in a line waiting for their turn to make a pass or take a shot for example.

So I am really excited about our new book, Developing Creativity Through Small-Sided Games.  And you can get it either in print OR as an immediate download eBook.

Try more small-sided games in your training sessions and you

0 Small-Sided Game Working On Interchanging Positions and Support

Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter.  Today’s featured activity is a structured small sided game working on interchanging positions and support.  Similar type activities can be found in the book Professional Youth Academy Training Sessions by  Sam Saif.

This is a 5 v 5 game on a 30 x 20 field with 2 full sized goals. The field is broken into thirds and there is a keeper in each goal, 2 backs, 1 midfielder and 1 forward for each team.

The ball starts with the black teams keeper who can roll the ball to either of his backs.  

0 4v4 For Spacing and Support

Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter.  Today’s featured activity is a 4 v 4 game working on support and spacing.

This game involves a 40 x 30 grid with two full sized goals.  There are 4 players on each team.  You can find many games similar to this in the book Coaching Soccer Through Small-Sided Games.

When the black team has the ball, two of their players stay back and two attack the goal.  The two who stay back are able to provide support.  So in attack, the team is playing a 2-2 formation.