Pass and offer, pass and move

Organisation

• Two equal teams play throw and catch on a mini-pitch
• When they are close enough to the goal, they can score with a volley or header
• The player with the ball cannot run with it, so team‑mates must provide support
• Focus on quality of passing and techniques for scoring

Ways to make the exercise easier

• Start the game with no goalkeepers; outfield players can try to block shots

 Ways to make the exercise harder

• Add goalkeepers
• Add a three-second rule while on the ball

Great questions to ask the children

• How can you support the player on the ball? Show me
• Can you call for the ball?
• Can you be creative when you have an opportunity to score?

Safety tips

• Create safe zones between pitches

Organisation

• Organise groups – maximum of six players per group
• Spread them out in an area – all players begin on a cone and there is one empty cone
• After each pass, the player must run straight to the empty cone
• Make a race between groups to complete a particular number of passes
• You can put conditions on the types of pass

Ways to make the exercise easier

• Start with throw and catch to help players understand the movement

 Ways to make the exercise harder

• Condition the types of passes – different parts of the foot, number of touches, etc.
• Tell the players to accelerate to the spare cone as fast as they can

 Great questions to ask the children

• Can you think about what makes a good‑quality pass?
• Can you show me what this looks like?
• Can you try to plan your next pass before the ball arrives at your feet?

Safety tips

• The players should keep their heads up when running to the spare cone

Organisation  

• 5v5 match with four pivot players on the sidelines
• The team in possession can pass to the pivots, creating a 9v5
• Encourage players in the middle to use the extra players to keep the ball
• Remind the players that the purpose of the game is to score – they should play forwards when they can
• Rotate the players, so they all get to play as pivots
• The pivot players should always try to return the ball to the team in possession

 Ways to make the exercise easier

• Start with throw and catch
• Have no goalkeepers

Ways to make the exercise harder

• Restrict the number of touches on the ball
• Have only one pivot on each side

 Great questions to ask the children

• Why is it important to use the extra players?
• How can you try to make space as a team?
• Can you try to make forward passes?

 Safety tips

• Create safe zones between pitches