Spread out, then close in
Ready when: Receive, turn and play on (i3) started; enough players for 3 v 3.
What you are learning
Playing as a team: spreading out wide and long when your team has the ball, so passes are easy, and closing in together straight away when the ball is lost. A joker who always plays for the team with the ball makes it easier.
Words on this card Goal, Small-sided game, Bib, Tackle, Switch, Width and depth, Joker, 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.
- Small-sided game
- A game with only a few players a side; "v" means against.
- Bib
- A coloured vest that shows which team a player is on.
- Tackle
- Taking the ball from an opponent's feet with your foot.
- Switch
- Changing at once from attacking to defending, or back, when the ball changes team.
- Width and depth
- Spreading out across the field (width) and up and down it (depth) to make space.
- Joker
- A player who always plays for the team with the ball.
- 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.
Set up
A field about 20 by 30 m; two goals; one or two bibs for a joker who plays with the team that has the ball.
Weather: dry ground
Show it first for the one teaching
- Stand the players where they should be with the ball: two wide by the sidelines, one far forward, one behind.
- Pass the ball once to show how easy it is when players are spread.
- Lose the ball on purpose: everyone runs back toward their own goal and closes the gaps.
Your part while they practise
Stop the game after five minutes and talk about width and depth.
Step by step
- 3 v 3 or 4 v 4 plus a joker.
- With the ball the team spreads: two wide, one far forward.
- When the ball is lost, everyone switches at once to defend together.
How much: 2 games of 6 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: Five-pass goals
A free game where a goal after 5 passes in a row counts double.
Who plays: two teams of 3 or 4 against each other, plus a joker; you referee.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Kick off from the middle
- Play a normal small game; the joker plays for whoever has the ball
- Count passes aloud; a goal after 5 in a row counts double
- Two halves of 6 minutes
- Fair play
- A grown-up plays only as the joker.
- Points
- 1 goal for a normal goal; 2 goals after 5 passes in a row.
- Fouls
- A free kick to the other team
- A foul tackle, a push or a hand ball
- The joker scoring a goal (the joker may not score)
- All players standing within a few steps of the ball when attacking
- Winning
- More goals after two halves.
- 1 goals for 1 star
- 3 goals for 2 stars
- 5 goals for 3 stars
Easier or harder
A wider field; two jokers.
Fewer touches; no joker.
What you will see, and what to say
- everyone runs to the ball
Spread out, find space
Be where a pass can reach you. - players walk after losing it
Switch on, defend together
Sprint back at once.
Self-check
3 passes in a row in 5 of 10 attacks.
Stop and get a coach when
The player wants positions and shape for 7 v 7 and beyond (a1).
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 width and depth, transition, being available.
Intermediate is done when the player can keep the ball under pressure in a small game.
awiseathlete.com/sports/football/football-i5