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Trolley races and small-sided games

FIFA, 22 Nov 2022

FIFA
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The session begins with a crab-lizard trolley race where players shuttle across the playing field mimicking the two animals. The session then moves on to multiple simultaneous 2v2 games involving balls of various sizes. Lastly players partake in a 5v5 game played on two goals.

Warm-up: Crab-lizard-trolley race

Organisation

  • Simple to organise – class warm-up activities to raise the heart rate and practise physical movements
  • Be creative and fun with physical movements
  • Ask the players to suggest their own movements
  • Give the players the chance to lead the group
  • Develops confidence and personalities

Ways to make the exercise easier

  • Put the players in pairs and only one of them has to go at a time, so they have a rest in between

Ways to make the exercise harder

  • Increase the complexity of the movements – focus on agility, balance and coordination
  • Make it a race

Great questions to ask the players

  • Can you see the coach/leader?
  • Can you show me a different way to move?

Safety tips

  • Make sure that the players have some personal space to move in safely

Skill development: 2v2 with various balls

Organisation

  • Ask the players to organise their own teams
  • Make multiple pitches, which can be the same size or different sizes
  • On each pitch, place a different size or type of ball
  • Rotate pairs, so they also play against pairs on other pitches
  • Create a tournament format – winners accumulate points

Ways to make the exercise easier

  • Use bigger goals or targets, and larger balls or soft balls

Ways to make the exercise harder

  • Smaller goals or targets
  • Use small balls like tennis balls

Great questions to ask the players

  • Which ball do you like playing with most and why?
  • What do you need to do to be successful?
  • What benefits do you get if you practise with different-sized balls or on different types of pitches?

Safety tips

  • Create a safe zone between each mini‑pitch

Game application: 5v5, 2 goals and goalkeepers, free play

Organisation

  • Pick equal teams and make one or more pitches. Two teams play and after three minutes or goals, one team rotates with another team
  • This is a chance for the players to now play matches using the different-sized balls to practise their skills
  • Rotate the goalkeepers every match or after each goal 

Ways to make the exercise easier

  • Use the normal ball for players who need more help
  • One team can have extra players to make it easier for them

Ways to make the exercise harder

  • Ask the better teams to play using the smallest ball
  • A team can play with fewer players than the other team
  • Limit the number of touches per player

Great questions to ask the players

  • Can you organise yourselves into positions?
  • Can you try to spread out as a team?
  • What can you do as a team when you lose the ball?

Safety tips

  • Create a safe zone between each pitch
  • Give players a short rest between each mini‑match, and drinks breaks if needed

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