1. Key Focus: Scanning On & Off the ball
Pick & Drop & Pick It If You Can
Key Focus: Scanning On & Off the ball
Layout: Mark out a large rectangle with 4 Zones
Mark out two Dens at opposite ends of the large grid
Pick and Drop:
Two teams ( Yellow and Blue) aim to run to opponent’s ball grid to pick up stationary balls and solo back to their own den as shown
Opponents may challenge opposition from picking balls up
See which team can retrieve all the balls from their opponent’s grid
Variation:
Pick It If You Can
2 Teams of 5/6 Aside play against each other in a large grid 15m x 15m
6/8 balls are placed at random about the play area
On signal one team attempts to pick ball up while the other prevent them
See which team can achieve the most pick ups in a set time
Repeat above but players must mark each other
Pick and Drop
Den
Den
4 Zones 1
Game 1

2. Key Focus: Kicking with A ‘HARD FOOT’
Cone Target Ball
Key Focus: Kicking with A ‘HARD FOOT’
Equipment:
10/15 Cones, Domes to mark out 5 Zones, 10 footballs
Layout:
3 Teams x 4/5 Aside Nos. 1 to 3
Large rectangle with 5 zones
Place 10/15 cones in middle zone - 5m x 15m for players in two outer zones to aim at
Leave next 2 zones 10m x 15m as No Man’s Land
2 Teams Nos. 1 & 2 go to outer zones with 5 balls each
Team 3 remains out side the middle zone to count and replace the knocked down cones
Change roles after 1 min. i.e. Team 1 go to middle zone, while Team 3 go to outer zone etc.
Use different foot after each change
1 point is scored for each cone knocked down
Key points:
This is an excellent game for encouraging players to use a ‘Hard Foot’ i.e. top of lace for kicking with power. 2
Game 2

3. Key Focus: Close control & ‘Shielding’ a Ball
Strike Away:
Key Focus: Close control & ‘Shielding’ a Ball
Layout:
Large Grid 15m v 15m
Each child has a ball
Organisation:
All the players dribble about a large grid
As they dribble they attempt to strike away any balls close to them
Players try and protect balls by using their bodies as shields to screen the ball.
Score:
Give all players 5 Points to begin.
They lose a point every time they are dispossessed and gain one every time they hit a ball away.
Winner:
The player with the most points at the end of a set time e.g. 2 minutes
Variation:
Have 3 – 4 players without a ball who attempt to gain possession
Players who lose a ball must attempt to gain possession of another ball
Which player can keep possession the longest without loosing their ball? 3
Game 3

4. Soloing Under pressure
Zone Solo
Key Focus:
Soloing Under pressure
Mark out a grid with 3 zones as shown.
Place 4 small scoring areas in the corners.
Select 3 Teams – red, blue & white
Two teams ( blue and white) play 3 a-side against each other while red defends the middle zone
Blue play one way and white the other into opposing grids
When white crosses the middle zone they play 3 v 3 on the blue
Each member of the team in possession must solo three times before they pass
There aim is to solo through the middle zone and score in the end zones (corners)
A goal is scored by a player soloing into their scoring grid – they retreat to their own half.
The other team then take possession and start a new attack in the opposite direction
Play each game for 3 minutes and then change roles
Which team can score the most goals ?
Variation:
Allow one member of the team in the middle to defend from any
where
Only two attacking players are allowed to pass the middle zone
Blue
White 4
Game 4

5. Key Focus: Blocking a Ball
Block Around The Clock
Key Focus: Blocking a Ball
Layout:
5/6 Numbered players stand in a circle formation
Every other player has a ball.
The rest help to retrieve loose balls
The aim is for No. 1 to start inside the circle and move around attempting to block - foot/bounced ball and punt kicks (Depending on skill level) from those players with the ball
No. 2 begins as No. 1 has made 3 blocks
Start with first player again but go the other way as you block
Tip: Demand that those kicking the balls do so gently initially in order to help the ‘blockers’ block the balls.
Variation:
Have 6/8 players in 2 lanes 5m apart and between each other, zig zag style facing each other in front of goals with a ball each
‘Blockers’ one at a time move down the line blocking each ball in turn
The final player, about 10m from goals, in the line aims to score a goal while the Blocker dives to block K K K K K K
Blocker K K K K 5
Game 5

6. Key Focus: Goalkeeping Skills
STRIKE 1,2, 3
Key Focus: Goalkeeping Skills
Quick Reactions
Equipment:
6 poles, 4/6 medium size balls, Two cones
How to Play? 
One player G1 acts as a goal keeper and stands between three cones 4/6 m apart.
Three other players stand between ‘gates’ (two poles 3/5 m apart) with a ball each.
They aim to score by playing the ball past the 2 cones on their side etc.
The ‘Gates should be 10/15m from the goalie and opposite each side of the triangle.
One other player stands behind these players and act as Retrievers.
The Strikers are numbered 1, 2, and 3.
The coach calls out the numbers to the Strikers i.e. ‘2’, ‘1’ etc.
When their number is called they strike for goal i.e. attempt to play the ball through their goals i.e. the side of the triangle opposite them etc.
Variation:
The strikers may roll , kick or strike the ball depending on skill level.
The game can be made more challenging by moving the goalie’s goal further away from the ‘gates’ or making the goals and ‘gates’ smaller.
Scoring:
The goalie scores by striking the ball through the appropriate ‘gate’ opposite.
The Strikers may score by hitting the ball past the goalie. 
Key Points:
Goalie – React quickly to the call by keeping on your toes at all times.
Get your feet behind the ball.
Kickers – Watch the ball when kicking. Decide where you hope to kick the ball.
GATES
Coach calls out Nos.
Retriever
Game 6

7. Triple Circle Pass ball Key Focus: Scanning On & Off the ball
Make 3 circles with a radius of 30/20/10m
Place one defender (Black) inside smallest circle and 4 in outside circle. These players must remain in their own circles
Place 4 attackers (Red) around inside circle and the same on the very outside
The 4 inside attackers must stay in their own circle while the 4 outside attackers must remain outside the outside circle
The aim is to play the ball either past the inside defenders to another attacker or to one of your attackers on the outside by passing to the outside defenders
This game develops spatial awareness as the player on the ball must decide which is the best passing option at all times by not only scanning near but far i.e. outside players if inside attackers are marked
Attackers must constantly move into better receiving positions depending on the defensive position of the defenders
Defenders must be aware of their attackers at all times depending on the player with the ball
The outside defenders must work as a team to defend the outside attackers
Make up your own scoring system
Goal
10m
20m
30m 7
Game 7

8. Key Focus: Punting For Accuracy
Find a Goal
Key Focus: Punting For Accuracy
10 Players in pairs in grid 30m x 20m
Each pair sets out two cones (same colour), 2m apart
Punt/strike ball to each other through goal-cones
Move and repeat around five sets of goals to finish
When a ball is passed through one goal the receiver solos off to another and passes through, the receiver must anticipate which goal the ball carrier is going to
and be ready to receive the pass
Who can score 5 Goals first?
Pick two players to act as goalkeepers. They move and block goals, the other players must find the free goals to make a score.
Modification - Cross Fire
One player from each pair moves outside the grid and returns passes to their partner inside the grid through the goals (make them wider if needed)
Change roles after a set time
Use both feet or strike from both sides in above games
Goal
Find
another
Game 8 8

9. ROTATE THE DEFENDER Game 9 HOW TO PLAY:
Key Focus: Passing – Lateral support on the ball
and the angle of the pass.
HOW TO PLAY:
Start with 5 players in each area
Use an area approx. 15m x 15m or bigger for hurling
4 attackers stay outside the area, 1 defender inside the area
Change the defender every 30 seconds
Attackers must move along the line to make an angle for the passer to complete their pass
Players should play 5 consecutive punt/strike passes to score 1 point (Bigger grid – 30m x 20m)
Exercise 2: Modification:
Introduce another defender to the grid
Introduce another attacker to the grid
Coach nearest defender to pressurise the ball while the other defender anticipates the pass
Progress to having all the players inside the grid – 4 v 2 etc.
Attacker
Ten Passes Or
30 sec. in middle
Defender
Attacker
Attacker
Attacker 9
Game 9

10. Tower Ball Game 1 Target Scoring Game
Key Focus:
Simple Attack / Defence
Principles
Work
the Ball
Around
The Zone
HOW TO PLAY:
4 Attackers attempt to out wit a defender by passing the ball to the attacker in the most advantageous position for a shot on target i.e. to knock down a cone. They must remain out side a small grid or circle area at all times (4m x 4m or bigger for striking).
NB. This is the main principal of attack in most invasion games and should be emphasised as often as possible.
One defender attempts to protect his goals (a cone inside a large hoop in the middle of the grid) by keeping his body between the goal and the ball at all times. S/he is not allowed in side the hoop.
NB.
This is the main principal of defence in most invasion games and should be coached frequently.
Allow very young children throw the ball initially before challenging them to hand pass/fist/ground kick/punt and finally strike.
Defender
GOAL
Knock down
the Cone
Game 10

11. Key Focus: Keeping Focused,
Your Number’s Up
Key Focus: Keeping Focused,
Reactions 5 4 3 2 5 4 3 2
Age group: 8+
Equipment:2 Sets of bibs, Cones to mark out grids 30m x 20m
Layout:
2 Teams of 10, split into 2 Teams of 5 each
Nos. them 1 & 2 Yellow & 1 & 2 Blue
Nos. Players in teams 1 to 5
When a player’s number is called e.g. 1’s from both sets of teams play against each other
2 Numbers may be called at a time
Uneven team numbers could be called given one team a numeric advantage e.g. ‘Yellow 2.3, & 4’ v ‘Blue 2 & 5’ etc.
Variation: 1
Add goals at either end for players to score 1 1 1 1 2 3 4 5 2 3 4 5
Game 20