Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): Year 3 & 4 After School Football Club

3 in a Row (10 mins)

Tic Tac Toe / 3 in a row

Aim:

Light, Fun warm up game. Designed to start encouraging thinking and team spirit.

Set up

2 Games running concurrently

4 teams, 4 in each team.

2 squares of 9 cones

4 start cones

3 bibs on each start cone (different colours)

How to play

Teams line up behind each cone laid down, when the word of command 'GO' is given by the coach the first person is to get up and pick up the first bib and place it on top of a cone. They are to sprint back and touch the hand of the next person in their team and they will also do the same, but now they need to start thinking tactically about whether they are going to go for a 3 in a row for their team or whether they are going to aim to block the other team. They then also sprint back and touch the 3rd person, who does the same with the final bib. If neither team have got 3 in a row the fourth person then sprints out and moves 1 of his own teams bibs to attempt to get 3 in a row.

Counter Attacking

Counter Attacking Play

Aim:

To encourage a quick counter attack within the team and to encourage quick defending when up against a counter attack.

Equipment

Cones

Balls

8 Bibs

2 Goals

How to play

A normal 8 v 8 game but with the below rules included.

Rules:

- Must be in the oppositions half to shoot

- If you shoot and miss the target then the whole team must run round their own goal. (Allowing the now attacking team to counter attack)

- If you shoot and score, the ball is returned to your goal keeper for your team to go again.

- Goalkeepers are the only players who do not have to run round the goals.

Development/Variation:

Entire team must be in oppositions half in order to shoot

Key Coaching Points

- Encourage quick transitions

- Encourage lots of shots, in order to allow the counter attacks to happen.

- Develop players personal positioning

- Encourage teams to think of tactics to counter the game i.e. Leaving a player to defend, so when the opposition team counter attacks, he is quick to run round the goal and is straight out defending.