Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): Clean your yard

Clean your yard is a passing and teamwork game. It helps players get familiar with how hard or soft to kick the ball, teamwork and being aware and keeps players on their toes!

Equipment and Setup

• Two equal teams
• Field split into 2 halves
• 10+ balls scattered around the playing area on both sides

Players must keep the ball out of their own yard and into the other team's yard by passing the ball when it comes across into their area. Players cannot cross into the other team's yard. The team with the least balls in their yard wins the game. The ball must be in the zone for it to count, which means the players must make sure their kick is just the right speed and power - too hard and it will go out of the opponent's area, too soft and it won't get into the area. A lot of the time a ball will be coming to the players receiving - they need to be able to control the ball and pass it, instead of kicking it as hard as they can away, which is what can happen with younger plater

Coaching points

• How can the player make it more difficult for the opposing team? Kick the ball into open areas and find the gaps away from the players
• Stay calm when a ball comes rolling to you, can you control and pass instead of kicking it away?

Context to the game

Though it is quite different from the game of soccer, clean your yard helps players with keeping calm under pressure, with a lot going on, helping the physical development and working together as a team. It also helps with the technique of passing and receiving.