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Piggy in the middle.

Piggy in the middle

Add another forward behind the goals who must play behind the defender and show which cone the passers must play through. if the defender wins the ball then he replaces the attacke

Possession

U13-U14 Whole–Part–Whole Developing 65 mins 8–18 players Match intensity Possession
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Practice timer

65:00

Pitch layout
Players Ball Pass / movement Cones / markers

How to use this session

  1. Set the learning intention before players arrive.
  2. Copy the pitch picture as closely as numbers allow.
  3. Protect ball-rolling time; intervene in natural stoppages.
  4. Use STEP live if challenge or success tips too far.

Session flow

Arrival · 8 mins

Warm-up rondo — Piggy in the middle.

8:00

Players arrive into a ball-rolling activity linked to the session theme.

Organisation: Small grids / mini pitches ready before players arrive.

Coaching points
  • Smile, connect, set the learning intention early.
  • High ball rolling from the first minute.
Progressions
  • Add directional constraints.
Regressions
  • Reduce pressure / enlarge space.
Whole game · 18 mins

Conditioned game — Piggy in the middle.

18:00

Directional game with a condition that makes piggy in the middle. the easiest path to success. Multi-ball restarts.

Organisation: Age-appropriate pitch; bibs.

Coaching points
  • Recognise when piggy in the middle. is on.
  • In possession: create and use space.
  • Out of possession: organise early.
Progressions
  • Tighten space or add a scoring bonus for the theme.
Regressions
  • Add a neutral / bounce player.
Part practice · 18 mins

Piggy in the middle.

18:00

Add another forward behind the goals who must play behind the defender and show which cone the passers must play through. if the defender wins the ball then he replaces the attacker.

Organisation: Balls: 12; Cones: 4

Coaching points
  • Stay player-centred: ask before telling.
  • Keep ball rolling time high.
  • Connect the practice to the game picture.
Progressions
  • Progression
Regressions
  • Remove opposition or enlarge the area to restore success.
Game · 16 mins

Transfer game — Piggy in the middle.

16:00

Open or lightly conditioned game. Freeze only to reinforce one coaching point from piggy in the middle..

Organisation: Age-appropriate pitch and numbers.

Coaching points
  • Catch them being good when the theme appears.
  • Manage challenge vs success live.
Progressions
  • Remove all conditions.
Regressions
  • Reintroduce the theme condition for 3 minutes.
Plenary · 5 mins

Review & cool down

5:00

Players share one learning from the session against the intention.

Organisation: Team huddle.

Coaching points
  • Link back to Four Corners and next session.

Related drills

Passing Warmup

Warmup: Players in Pairs, standing opposite each other with a ball in the middle. One player runs and and receives the pass in the middle and passes it back, they then shuttle back to the start and start again Each Player will do 10 passes, 8 passes, 6 passes, 4 passes, 2 passes In between each set of passes the players will switch over. IF A PASS MISSES OR BALL GOES STRAY THEN THEY MUST START AGAIN (with the 10,8,6,4,2 – whichever they were on) Coaches walking in between getting in the way Coaching Points: Focus on the quality of the pass – especially when you get out of breath and gassed. Player not running times the pass to get to them as they return to the middle Passing Warmup

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Passing & Drag backs – u7 girls

Warmup: Players in Pairs, standing over the ball in the middle One player uses drag backs to take the ball all the way back to their cone and then passes it to the player in the middle Once they’ve passed the ball they must do their second job which is “get back to the middle” The other player will then drag the ball back to their cone and pass it back repeat Coaching Points: Focus on the quality of the pass Passing & Drag backs – u7 girls

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Drill 16

Double Rondo w/tig: 2 rondos, when you win the ball the team keep passing and you go and choose someone on the outside of the other rondo to take your place in the middle

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20yards

20yards 20yards Drill: Collect the Treasure/Cones Objective: Develop 1v1 skills (attacking and defending) with a focus on dribbling and decision-making. Setup: Create a grid (20x20 yards). Place 10 cones in the middle of the grid, each representing "treasure." Split players into two teams: Pirates and Defenders. Pirates start outside the grid with a ball each. Defenders start inside the grid without a ball. Instructions: The Pirates' goal is to dribble into the grid, "steal" a treasure , and dribble back out to the outside without being tackled. Defenders try to block Pirates and win the ball. If a Defender wins the ball, they pass it out of the grid for the attacker to start again. Each time will be timed doing the drill and the team that gets all the cones out quickest wins.

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Related sessions

Library Creator Install