1 goal - bibs - supply of balls cones. Organisation The goal keeper begins the game by throwing the ball out. All the teams attempt to score in the single goal. If you score you go
Copy the pitch picture as closely as numbers allow.
Protect ball-rolling time; intervene in natural stoppages.
Use STEP live if challenge or success tips too far.
Session flow
8m
18m
18m
16m
5m
Arrival · 8 mins
Warm-up rondo — World Cup 4 teams of 3
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 — World Cup 4 teams of 3
18:00
Directional game with a condition that makes world cup 4 teams of 3 the easiest path to success. Multi-ball restarts.
Organisation: Age-appropriate pitch; bibs.
Coaching points
Recognise when world cup 4 teams of 3 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
World Cup 4 teams of 3
18:00
1 goal - bibs - supply of balls cones. Organisation The goal keeper begins the game by throwing the ball out. All the teams attempt to score in the single goal. If you score you go through Play until their is only one team left.
Can the players hold on to the ball and wait for the right opportunity too shoot.
Tempo (can you keep it up) - Technical skills ( first touch, head up, dribbling skills) - Concentration.
Progressions
Increase pressure / reduce space / add direction.
Regressions
Remove opposition or enlarge the area to restore success.
Game · 16 mins
Transfer game — World Cup 4 teams of 3
16:00
Open or lightly conditioned game. Freeze only to reinforce one coaching point from world cup 4 teams of 3.
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
Drill 344
You can only win by one goal.
When a goal is scored, the team that scored must just try and keep possession and can't score into the goal. If they do, the goal is disallowed and a goal kick ensues.
If the other team then equalise and make it 1-1, either team can then score to make it 2-1. The team leading then just has to keep possession. This is an excellent possession game and also allows a team to play out time by keeping possession, which is why I limit the game to just 5 minutes. As well as possession, teams also have to attack with speed when needing to score and the game also focuses on transition.
Tactical: How will you play when you have gone a goal up? How will you play when you are a goal down?
Technical: When wining look to play possession football, movement and passing techniques.
Phych: If you are a goal down, don’t panic you only need 1 goal. Remain focused.
3v3 inside the circle with bounce players on the outside
2 touch If possible
Which team of 3 can get the most passes
Movement to get into position after passing
Players outside cant be tackled but passes can be intercepted
2 teams inside playing “keep-ball”
Players on the inside split into 2 teams.
Objective is to make as many passes as you can, whichever team is in possession can use the players on the outside for “bounce/wall passes”
As soon as possession changes outside players switch allegiance.
Communication
1 touch from outside
Switch teams from outside to replace inside team when ball is lost.
3v3+3 (+5 with coaches)
4v4 inside the circle with bounce players on the outside
2 touch If possible
Which team of 3 can get the most passes
Movement to get into position after passing
Players outside cant be tackled but passes can be intercepted
2 teams inside playing “keep-ball”
Players on the inside split into 2 teams.
Objective is to make as many passes as you can, whichever team is in possession can use the players on the outside for “bounce/wall passes”
As soon as possession changes outside players switch allegiance.
Communication
1 touch from outside
Can you get the ball from coach to coach multiple times?
4v4 + coaches
Game – Clean your room
Rules:
Normal pitch setup
Players in teams
5/6 balls in each goal
Players objective is to go get the ball from their own goal and dribble them to the other end and put them in the other goal
Players can tackle if they want
Only one ball per player
No hands