FIFA
#8 to 12

Adjusting to changing team sizes

FIFA, 29 Mar 2022

FIFA
left
right

The session starts with a possession game where an additional defender joins in after five consecutive passes. The second exercise is a 6v3 game where the outnumbered team gains an extra player after every goal. To end, players participate in a 5v5 game where teams lose a player if they concede a goal.

Warm-up: Possession game

Organisation

  • Organise two teams of 5v5 and start with 5v1 on the pitch
  • The team in possession has to complete five or more passes as a team and the defending team can then bring on the next player. Each time a new player is added, start from 0 and try to reach the required number of passes. See which team can complete the full number of passes the quickest, all the way up to 5v5
  • Play the game by throwing and catching and then with feet

 Ways to make the exercise easier

  • Make the area larger

 Ways to make the exercise harder

  • Make the area smaller

 Great questions to ask the children

  • Can you spread out as a team and try to use all the available space?
  • Can you call for the ball?
  • Can the defenders try to delay passing for as long as possible?

 Safety tips

  • Defenders can only intercept the ball when it is being thrown or caught
  • Create a safe playing area

Skill development: Game with changing team sizes

Organisation

  • Start with 6v3 and three waiting.  Time the team with six players on how long they take to score against three, four, five, then six players
  • Both teams have a turn at starting with six players, the quickest team to score the four goals wins
  • Add 30 seconds to their time for each goal they concede!

 Ways to make the exercise easier

  • You can start with 6v1 and build up to 6v4 maximum

 Ways to make the exercise harder

  • You can put conditions on the type of goal scored
  • You can say that a different player has to score each goal

 Great questions to ask the children

  • How can you take advantage of having extra players on your team?
  • How important is it that we don’t let the other team score?
  • If you are defending when outnumbered, how can you delay a goal for as long as possible?

 Safety tips

  • Create a safe playing area

Game application: Game 5v5 without Goalkeepers

Organisation

  • Start with 5v5 or 6v6 with or without goalkeepers
  • After a team scores a goal, the other team loses a player
  • After each goal, players continue to leave the pitch until one team has no players left. The team left on the pitch wins
  • The winners stay on to face a new team and repeat

 Ways to make the exercise easier

  • One team can start with more players
  • Play with no goalkeepers

 Ways to make the exercise harder

  • Play with goalkeepers
  • One team can start with fewer players – a good way to challenge the best players
  • If a goal is scored when a team is down to three or fewer players, the team can have a player back on

 Great questions to ask the children

  • How important is the first goal?
  • Can you decide amongst yourselves which player has to leave the pitch?
  • Can you try to score a goal when your team has fewer players?

 Safety tips

  • Create a safe playing are

Rate your experience

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

The site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.