Small games and shooting
Ready when: Dribble with the head up (b2) and Pass with the inside of the foot (b3) started.
What you are learning
Shooting with the laces, aiming low into the corners (accuracy before power), and deciding in a small game when to pass and when to shoot. Small games with more attackers than defenders give every child chances.
Words on this card Goal, Goalkeeper, Laces, Standing foot, Grid, Bib, Free kick
- Goal
- The goal is the frame with a net; the goal line is the end line it stands on; the sidelines run down the long sides.
- Goalkeeper
- The player who guards the goal and may use the hands in the penalty area.
- Laces
- The top of the foot where the shoelaces are; used for shooting.
- Standing foot
- The foot you are not kicking with, planted beside the ball.
- Grid
- A square marked with cones for practice.
- Bib
- A coloured vest that shows which team a player is on.
- Free kick
- A free kick is an unopposed kick after a foul; a penalty kick is a shot from 11 m with only the keeper to beat.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Place the ball still. Put the standing foot beside it, head over the ball.
- Point the toe down and strike the middle of the ball with the laces.
- Aim low at a corner of the goal, not at the middle.
Your part while they practise
Referee; keep every player moving.
Step by step
- Shoot from a still ball: foot beside it, laces, head over the ball, aim low in the corners.
- 2 v 1 to a goal.
- 1 v 1 to two small cone goals.
How much: 10 shots each, then 2 games of 5 minutes 15 min a session 2 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Four-goal football
Each team defends two small cone goals and attacks two; no keepers.
Who plays: two teams of 2 to 4 against each other; you referee.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Put a small cone goal 2 m wide in each corner of the grid
- Each team attacks the two goals at the far end
- After a goal, the other team restarts from its own end line
- Two halves of 5 minutes
- Fair play
- A grown-up may pass but not score.
- Points
- 1 goal for each ball dribbled or passed through a goal; 2 goals if every player on the team touched the ball first.
- Fouls
- A free kick to the other team
- Tackling from behind, pushing or kicking the legs
- A hand or arm on the ball
- One player keeping the ball for more than 5 touches
- Winning
- More goals after two halves.
- 1 goals for 1 star
- 3 goals for 2 stars
- 5 goals for 3 stars
Easier or harder
More attackers.
Equal sides.
What you will see, and what to say
- one child keeps the ball
Pass to a team-mate
Look for the free player. - the shot is a toe poke
Laces, hit the ball's middle
Toe down, ankle firm.
Self-check
Each child has 1 shot on goal or more in a 10-minute game.
Stop and get a coach when
A child is hurt.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains decisions, shooting.
awiseathlete.com/sports/football/football-b4