FIFA
#12 to 15

Different exercises, same goal

FIFA, 12 Apr 2022

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As a warm-up, players participate in a 7v7 game where one team plays football and the other plays handball. The second exercise is a 4v4 possession game and a 5v5 line-football game. The session culminates in a 9v9.

Warm-up: 7v7 game football and handball

 Organisation

  • Organise a pitch for two equal teams of up to 7v7
  • One team plays handball and the other plays normal football
  • It’s two games in one: when a team loses the ball, the opponents immediately play their game, either picking it up to play handball or putting it on the ground to play by foot
  • This game highlights when the ball changes hands (the transition game) and helps players to recognise when attack becomes defence and defence becomes attack

Ways to make the exercise easier

  • Have fewer players and use a bigger pitch

Ways to make the exercise harder

  • Use a smaller pitch

Great questions to ask the children

  • What’s the first thing you think of when your team wins the ball?
  • Can you try to intercept the ball?
  • When you win the ball, can you immediately try to create space as a team?

Safety tips

  • Players can only intercept the ball if they are defending against football – they cannot tackle an opponent with the ball in his or her hands

Skill development: 4v4 possession game and 5v5 line football

Organisation

  • Organise a pitch for players to play 4v4 or 5v5
  • Players play and score by keeping possession or running into end zones
  • A team can score by making five successive passes without losing the ball or crossing the end line with the ball in its control
  • If the other team wins the ball, it tries to do the same

Ways to make the exercise easier

  • Start by playing throw and catch
  • Reduce the number of passes needed to score a point

Ways to make the exercise harder

  • Increase the number of passes needed to score a point

Great questions to ask the children

  • Can you try to make the pitch as big as possible by spreading out as a team?
  • Can you show me how you can communicate as a team?
  • Can you recognise opportunities to pass forwards and cross the line?

Safety tips

  • Create safe zones between each playing area

Game application: 9v9 game

Organisation

  • Organise two equal teams of 6v6/7v7/8v8
  • Start with normal rules; let the players decide how to restart the game
  • Ask the players to referee their own games
  • Ask the players to make their own team formation
  • If there are more than two teams, then rotate every few minutes or make multiple pitches
  • Try to use large goals, if possible
  • If you have an odd number, it’s fine to play with uneven teams, or one player can be a floater and play for both teams
  • To encourage forward passes, the team with the ball must reach the attacking half within ten seconds – if it doesn't, play restarts from the opponents' goalkeeper

Ways to make the exercise easier

  • Give one team more players

Ways to make the exercise harder

  • Make one team play with fewer players
  • Reduce the time allowed to reach the opponents’ half to five seconds

Great questions to ask the children

  • Can you discuss and agree on your formation as a team?
  • Can you try to play the pass forwards as soon as possible?
  • In which areas of the pitch can you take risks on the ball?

Safety tips

  • Create safe zones between pitches

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