Finish your chances

Organisation  

• Two groups of four pass the ball between them inside a square – one group has two defenders trying to win the ball
• When the defenders win or intercept the ball, then the pair who lost the ball run to the other group to try to win the ball
• Repeat the process, so the defenders become a part of the four when they win the ball, and the pair who lost it always have to go and hunt the ball in the other group
• The pair who end up as defenders most often lose the game

Ways to make the exercise easier

• Allow the players to throw and catch the ball to begin with
• Each pair can have “extra lives” before they become defenders: for example, only change roles after a pair lose the ball twice

Ways to make the exercise harder

• Challenge the defenders to win the ball back within six passes after entering the square

Great questions to ask the players

• What do you prefer? Having the ball or chasing the ball?
• Can you show me ways to disguise your passes when 4v2?
• Can you show me how you can defend as a pair to win the ball back quickly?
• What was the goal/aim of the game?
• What strategies did you use to achieve it?

Safety tips

• Create safe zones between multiple pitches

Organisation

• Organise teams of no more than six , plus dribbling areas
• At the end of each dribbling area, there is a goal and a goalkeeper
• Encourage the players to dribble through the cones quickly, then play a one-two before shooting
• Make it a race between the teams: only the first goal counts, or the first team to ten goals wins
• Remind the players to follow up in case of rebounds

Ways to make the exercise easier

• Have no goalkeepers to start with
• Do not require a one-two: allow the players to take more touches when passing, or to just dribble and shoot

Ways to make the exercise harder

• The receiver of the pass can become a defender and try to close down the dribbler

Great questions to ask the players

• Can you show me the best way to dribble through the cones quickly?
• What types of shot can you choose from and why?
• Can you show me your different shooting techniques?
• What was the goal/aim of the game?
• What strategies did you use to achieve it?
• Were you successful?

Safety tips

• Only one player from each team should go at a time, and make sure the goalkeepers are always ready

Organisation

• Divide the group into three equal teams of no more than six players per team.
• Two teams play at any one time (the other rests); the same team starts with the ball for three attacking attempts
• After three attempts, the attackers become the defenders and the previous defenders rest, while the resting team becomes the attackers
• If the defending team wins the ball and then scores, it counts for two points, to reward the successful transition
• Keep rotating the teams after each set of three attempts, and each team should keep a count of its total point score

Ways to make the exercise easier

• Use larger goals
• Give the attacking team more attempts before it has to change to become defenders

Ways to make the exercise harder

• Limit the number of touches on the ball
• Limit the defending team to three passes to try to score a goal after winning the ball

Great questions to ask the players

• Can you think about how you create space as an attacking team?
• Can you try to play the ball forwards into attacking positions?
• If you are defending and win the ball, can you break quickly as a team to score?
• What was the goal/aim of the game?
• What strategies did you use to achieve it?
• Were you successful?
• What other strategies could you try next time?

Safety tips

• Create safe zones between multiple pitches