5v3 match using just the side of the pitch. The coach plays the ball to a player on the back line (marked out by the yellow cones). They must then play the ball around the defenders until their team is through on goal. Defenders cannot leave the "main box" of their pitch (red and black cones). This allows a free pass to start the game, and a 1-on-1 with the goalkeeper. When the ball goes out of play, an attacking player must get to the back line to receive a new ball. The attacking teams have 2 minutes to score as many goals as possible.
Coaches cannot pass the ball in to play until there is an attacking player on the back line. Fouls count towards the goal tally. Practices overloads/underloads, through balls and 1-on-1s.
This practice has no coaching points
This practice has no progressions
in more ways than one
sportplan_football
Deliberate heading is now out of U11 grassroots matches. Here is how to coach chest, thigh and foot control so your players still win the ball in the air.
Long-range goals doubled at the 2026 World Cup as teams sat deep. Here is how to coach when to shoot from distance, the technique, and the follow-up.
Under FutureFit, your Under-9s stay at 5v5, your Under-11s stay at 7v7 and your Under-13s stay at 9v9. Same pitch, same numbers, one more year. Here is how to make sure that year feels like a step forward rather than a repeat.
