4v4 In Two Halves Keep Away To End Zones

Set Up

• Grid is 20x20 divided into 2 halves
• The Blue team is attacking and the Red is defending
• The attacking team may have as many players in each half as they see fit
• The defending team may only have 2 players in their attacking half at any time
• The defending team may only have 3 players in their defending half at any time

Procedure

• The attacking team attempts to score a point by either dribbling across the end line or completing a pass to a player running into the end zone
• Add in that the attacking team must complete 5 passes before scoring a goal
• If the defending team wins the ball, they can earn a point by completing 3 passes

Make It Competitive

• Each team gets 10 balls on offense, the team with the most points wins

4v2 To Two Goals Keep Away

Set Up

• 3 teams of 4 players
• 2 fields that are 15x15 with 2 cone goals on the outside of the grid
• Each team breaks into pairs and one pair is on each field

Procedure

• One team is the defending team.  If they win the ball they try to score on either of the two cone goals
• The other two teams combine to make the attacking team (4 total players)
• The attacking teams get a point every time they complete 5 passes in row

3 Grid Possession Game

Set Up

• Field is 30x25 yards divided into three 10x25 yard grids with end zones at each end
• Each team starts with 3 players in their defensive 1/3, 2 players in the middle 1/3, and one player in the attacking grid

Procedure

• The Blue team starts with the ball in their defensive third and attempts to score a point by dribbling into the end zone or passing the ball to a teammate running into the end zone
• Attacking players may move up a grid any time the ball moves up a grid
• Defending players must stay in their grids

Player Movement Variations

• Attacking players may only move up a grid if they pass the ball
• Attacking players may only move up a grid if they are not the one passing the ball
• Players may switch grids if one player checks into a grid while another player runs through into the attacking grid

Variations To The Game

• Once players get the hang of the game, they cannot play a pass back to the grid where the ball came from
• Players may not play a pass into the grid that they are in
• Play that the middle grid is one touch only
• Play Straight Diagonal into the end zone
• Play to Goal

 Change The Starting Numbers In Each Grid To Focus On Different Positions

• Play with 2 or 3 forwards to work on their movement
• Play with 2 defenders- 2 wide players - 1 center mid- 1 fwd to work on on the wide players movement between the grids
• Play with 4 defenders to work on the back 4 movement
• Play with 3 Center mids

Straight Diagonal Keep Away

Set Up

• Grid is 15x15 or 20x20 depending on the number of players you are using
• Cones are spaced out every 5 yards to create the side line of the grid
• Two teams of 4-6 players

Procedure

• Play keep away in the grid
• After 5 passes you must play a Straight/Diagonal through the gates that surround the grid
• The pass and run must be timed where the runner cannot leave the grid before the pass

Straight Run Diagonal Pass

 Straight Pass Diagonal Run

Variations

• Play directional and give each team an end zone to attack. 
• Add in second grid around the outside where they have to get control of the ball before it goes out of the grid so you are working on the weight of the pass and timing of the run.

2v2 To Four Goals

This is one of the most important games for our younger players to understand how to move off of the ball and how to possess the ball.

Set Up

• Grid 10x10 yards with four goals
• Two teams, 1 coach with all the soccer balls
• The players who are not up stand just behind the end line in their goals so if a ball is played through the goal they can receive that ball and step onto the field 

Procedure

• The coach plays the ball to one of the teams and they try to score by passing the ball through either of the goals on the opposite end line.
• If a goal is scored the team that scored stays on the field and the team that was scored on leaves the field.  The next player up in each line from the team that was scored on step onto the field and attempt to score.
• If the ball goes out of bounds, all the players are out and four new players step onto the field
• We want the players who are next up to be active and if the ball is going out over their end line they move so they can receive that ball and begin play with that ball.

Key Points

• Circular movement off of the ball
• Move after you pass the ball
• Recognize when the dribbler is going to turn support
• Read the space created by the defenders

Variations

2v2 With Support Targets

2v2 With Attacking Targets

2v2 With Wide Targets