From 3v3 to 7v7

Organisation

• Organise teams of no more than six and set up two teams opposite each other
• Invite the players to decide how the teams should be selected
• Create an area that the players have to run across before making an accurate pass to the opposite team
• After passing the ball, they should use a different running movement to complete the remaining distance
• Encourage them to focus on the accuracy and weight of their passes
• The first team to complete ten successive accurate passes wins; if a pass is misplaced (e.g. it hits the gate or does not go to the receiver), the team starts again from zero

Ways to make the exercise easier

• Make the gate to pass through bigger

Ways to make the exercise harder

• Make the gate to pass through smaller, meaning increased accuracy is required
• Challenge the receiver to push the ball away from his/her feet with his/her first touch and take a maximum of three touches before passing the ball through the gate

Great questions to ask the players

• Can you focus on accurate passing?
• What’s the best way to pass over this distance?
• Can you try different types of passes to see what works for you best?
• What running movement did you choose after you passed the ball?
• What choices did you have?

Safety tips

• Create safe zones between each pair of teams

Organisation

• 3v3 mini-matches – organise multiple pitches
• Invite the players to pick the teams and set up the pitches
• If you don’t have enough goalposts, targets or gates can be used instead
• Encourage the players to reflect on the fairest process for arranging the teams

Ways to make the exercise easier

• No goalkeepers

Ways to make the exercise harder

• Allow the nearest defending player to goal to use his/her hands
• Allow any defending player to use his/her hands if within 2m of the goal

Safety tips

• Make sure the players leave spaces between pitches and any goals are safe

 Organisation

• Organise two equal teams of up to 7v7
• Invite the players to decide how the teams should be selected
• Normal rules, but let the players decide how to restart the game (e.g. kick-ins instead of throw-ins)
• Ask the players to referee their own games
• Allow the teams to vote on who will be the referee
• If there are several teams, rotate every few minutes
• Encourage all the players to take a turn in goal

Ways to make the exercise easier

• Give one team more players

Ways to make the exercise harder

• Give one team fewer players
• Add conditions to the game (e.g. a minimum number of passes before goals can be scored); give the players the chance to decide

Safety tips

• Watch all pitches from a central position in case of injuries and rotate to give players the opportunity to rest when needed