Mark your space
Mark it once. Every card in football starts from this space and adds what it needs.
The space
At home a wall and a clear 5 m by 5 m; in a park a grid of 20 by 20 yards (about 18 m by 18 m) with cones; goals can be two cones or shoes. Dimensions by age: ask the club or league.
Where it fits: lane (wall and close control), terrace (juggling), park, school ground, village ground.
Mark in this order
- A start line
- A wall target
- Two-cone gates
- A 20 by 20 yard grid
- Mini-goals
Chalk or tape is enough. Tick each mark as you make it.
Practice kit first
Any ball (size 3 or 4 for young children), cones from bottles or shoes, bibs from shirts.
Shin guards for any game with opponents.
Safety
No tackling in the first games; anchor any portable goal so it cannot tip, and never climb on or hang from a goal; shin guards covered by socks and the right shoes for the surface; no watches or jewellery; challenge the ball, never the legs; a keeper faces one ball at a time; keep the area in front of the goal clear while someone shoots; fill or cover holes in the ground; hydrate and avoid the midday heat.
awiseathlete.com/sports/football/setup