Different pitches

Organisation

• Organise your players into groups of three in their own space
• The groups play 2v1 and try to keep the ball for a number of passes or period of time
• The groups can have a competition between them to see which pair can keep the ball the longest
• Each time a player loses the ball, he/she swaps with the defender

Ways to make the exercise easier

• Make the area larger

 Ways to make the exercise harder

• Make the area smaller
• Limit the number of touches

Great questions to ask the children

• Can you create an angle to receive a pass?
• Do you have to pass the ball if there is no pressure on you?
• Can you disguise your pass or movement?

Safety tips

• Create a safe playing area

Organisation

• Create four different types of pitch and organise teams of 3v3 on each pitch
• 1v1 in each half, plus goalkeepers
• Players get to experience the different limitations of each pitch and have to work out the best way to play as a team
• If you have bigger numbers, you can play 2v2 in some areas, or have uneven numbers in some areas – it doesn’t matter!

 Ways to make the exercise easier

• You could play with a 2v1 in one half and no goalkeepers

 Ways to make the exercise harder

• Limit the number of touches per player
• Make one area much smaller than the other for the best players

Great questions to ask the children

• How does the space affect the way you can play?
• What are the advantages?
• What are the disadvantages?

 Safety tips

• Create a safe playing area

Organisation 

• Organise two teams of 7v7 and divide the pitch into three zones, with 2v2 in each zone plus a goalkeeper for each team
• Teams have to play through the zones to score
• Players are restricted to their own zone
• Rotate players through each zone after a goal is scored

 Ways to make the exercise easier

• One team can have extra players in zones
• Players can play straight to the end zone if it is possible

 Ways to make the exercise harder

• One team has less players in zones
• Players have to pass through each zone before they can score

 Great questions to ask the children

• Do you have to always play forward from the middle zone?
• Can you try to find positions in your zone to support the player on the ball?
• Which zone do you prefer to play in and why?

Safety tips

• Create a safe playing area