1. Ministry of Football CONTEXT
Ministry of Football is an indoor skill development programme for male and female players of all abilities, from ages 4 to adult. Started in 2007, we focus on small-sided football and futsal.
From young ages, we believe in game-based learning, using modified small-sided games, lead by expert coaches and teachers.
More at:
CONTACT
Suggestions and feedback welcomed as usual.
Mark Carter

2. The Game
HOW IT WORKS
Two teams play a game of football. The game has rules, set out in the mission card. Teams work their way up levels, and the first team to complete Level 4 is the winner.
Each time a goal is scored, the goal-scorer comes to the Board and moves their team on a number of squares according to the way the goal was scored using the dice on the mission card.
ROLE OF COACH
The coach should design the game well, in order for it to contain inherent, appropriate learning. The coach can adjust the board; amend the challenges, mission and dice scoring system; and consider what CHEATS and CHALLENGES to use, bearing in mind the experience of the teams and children playing.
MANAGING THE GAME
The suggestion is to blu-tac the Board onto a whiteboard or wall at the side of the pitch, along with the mission card. Each team’s counter can be blu tac’d onto the board. Each team can have an area to collect any cards they land on, at either side of the board.

3. The Board TIME OUT THE SQUARES
The goal-scorer will move the team along the board after they have scored a goal, and the game will carry on as usual while they do this, so they will need to be quick.
The only time the game stops will be if the team lands on one of the following three squares:
CHEAT
CHALLENGE
If a team lands here, the coach should quickly decide whether to give that team a CHEAT or CHALLENGE, and explain to both teams what they have given.
TIME OUT
If a team lands here, both teams have a quick Time Out. They can discuss tactics and strategies. They can use one of their CHEAT, CHALLENGE, CHANGE or CLUE cards if they have collected any of these.
LEVEL 2
Once a team has got to the end of a level, they always start from the beginning of the next level.
They may need to adjust the playing area or task according to the levels on the mission card. This shouldn’t take long.

4. CHANGE and CLUE CHANGE and CLUE
These are cards that the teams can pick up as they move up the board. They can then use these cards (or a CHEAT or CHALLENGE) card at the next Time Out. Teams can only use one of each card in the mission, so they need to choose carefully when to use each one.
PICK UP A CHANGE CARD
Use this at the next Time Out
CHANGE: This gives the team a chance to change the game. They can choose to change the rules, task, space or equipment – as long it is the same change for both teams, and agreed with the coach.
CLUE: This gives the team a chance to get some help or coaching from the coach. A CLUE might be a hint or advice of how to play the mission better or be successful.
PICK UP A
CLUE CARD
Use this at the next Time Out

5. Player Challenges GOAL-SCORER CHALLENGES and PLAYER CHALLENGES
These are squares that a team can land on, and the idea is for one of the players on the team to get an extra challenge.
GOALSCORER CHALLENGE
You can’t score your team’s next goal
GOAL-SCORER CHALLENGE: The goal-scorer reads the challenge and returns to the game to continue playing.
PLAYER CHALLENGE
Coach gives one of your players a challenge
PLAYER CHALLENGE: The coach can choose any player on that team to give a challenge to. This could be anything from “Try to play forward when you can” or “You must man-to-man mark player X”. The idea is to provide challenge and support to individuals within the game.

6. COACHES SHEET: CHEAT & CHALLENGE EXAMPLES
Some examples of CHEATS and CHALLENGES are below. Some will work with some missions, while others won’t. All cheats and challenges remain with the team until they get to the end of the current level. A SUPERPOWER can be given as a CHEAT too, and a VIRUS can be given as a CHALLENGE (again, examples below).
CHEATS examples:
Move to end of the level
STEAL: Steal a player from the opposing team
DOUBLE-UP: Your dice rolls are doubled
Your goal is turned sideways (you can choose which way)
CHALLENGES examples:
Your team can be off-side in the attacking half
You can only score from inside the penalty area
One of your players can only play along one of the touchlines (with 1-2 touches only)
Maximum dice roll is 3
Move back to start of previous level
Biggest help
Biggest challenge
SUPERPOWER
Magic cone
When a player throws the cone onto the ground, the nearest opponent must go and collect it and take it to the nearest side-line.
SUPERPOWER
Super scorer
Give team a bib. If player holding bib scores, then the dice is doubled.
SUPERPOWER
Goalie power-up
Your GK can dribble the ball without being tackled anywhere in your half of the pitch.
VIRUS
No tackling
No-one on your team can make a tackle. Instead you have to jockey and force opponent into a mistake.
VIRUS
1 touch or 4 touch
You must play using either one-touch of the ball or four-touches of the ball (could choose to apply this to just two players on team).

7. TIME OUT TIME OUT TIME OUT
FINISH
MISSION COMPLETE !!
CHEAT
CHALLENGE 7 6
PLAYER CHALLENGE
Coach gives one of your players a challenge 5
TIME OUT 4
GOALSCORER CHALLENGE
If you assist the next goal, it’s worth double 3
CHEAT
CHALLENGE 2 1
LEVEL 4
STOP HERE!
FINISH
LEVEL 3
STOP HERE! 1
PICK UP A CHANGE CARD
Use this at the next Time Out 2
PICK UP A
CLUE CARD
Use this at the next Time Out 3
PLAYER CHALLENGE
Coach gives one of your players a challenge 4
TIME OUT 5
PICK UP A
CHEAT CARD
Use this at the next Time Out 6 7
All cheats and challenges cleared
First team here gets a challenge
PICK UP A
CHALLENGE CARD
Use this at the next Time Out 7
PLAYER CHALLENGE
Coach gives one of your players a challenge 6
CHEAT
CHALLENGE 5
GOALSCORER CHALLENGE
You must play only 1-2 touches until your team score again 4
TIME OUT 3
PICK UP A
CLUE CARD
Use this at the next Time Out 2 1
STOP HERE!
LEVEL 2
Stop at the beginning of each Level
All cheats and challenges cleared
First team here gets a challenge
Choose a mission and start here!
TIME OUT: You can use one of your cards here. You can only use one of each type of card in the mission
LEVEL 1 1
GOALSCORER CHALLENGE
You can’t score your team’s next goal 2
PICK UP A
CHEAT CARD
Use this at the next Time Out 3
CHEAT
CHALLENGE 4
PICK UP A
CHALLENGE CARD
Use this at the next Time Out 5
PLAYER CHALLENGE
Coach gives one of your players a challenge 6
PICK UP A CHANGE CARD
Use this at the next Time Out 7
All cheats and challenges cleared
First team here gets a challenge
Move your team up the board each time you score a goal, according to the dice on the MISSION card
Coach gives team a CHEAT or CHALLENGE

8. DICE 1. An own goal 2. All other goals 3. A one-touch finish
MISSION 1:
UNLOCK ALL YOUR PLAYERS TO COMPLETE THE MISSION
Start on Level 1, where all four of your outfield players are locked in.
Each time to you get to a new level, unlock one of your players (you choose which player)
LEVELS
1. All four players locked
2. One player unlocked
3. Two players unlocked
4. Three players unlocked
COMPLETE: All 4 players unlocked GK
DICE
This shows how many squares to move when you score a goal
Defender
1. An own goal
2. All other goals
3. A one-touch finish
4. At least 3 passes in build-up
5. A successful ‘1-2’ move in the build-up
6. Everyone (incl GK) touch the ball in build-up
Right side
Left side
Attacker
5v5.
Pitch is divided into quarters as shown above.
Each player is locked into two quarters.
Adjustments
If more players, then add some extra locked or unlocked players on each team
If fewer players, then the GK could be locked into the penalty area

9. DICE 1. An own goal 2. All other goals
MISSION 2:
MOVE THE OPPONENT’S GOAL ROUND 360 DEGREES TO COMPLETE THE MISSION
Start on Level 1, where goal is facing in the usual direction.
Each time to you get to a new level, move your goal round 90 degrees.
LEVELS
1. Goal facing normal direction
2. Goal turned 90 degrees, to face sideways
3. Goal turned 180 degrees, to face backwards
4. Goal turned 270 degrees to face sideways
COMPLETE: Goal moved all way round
Level 1
DICE
This shows how many squares to move when you score a goal
Level 2
1. An own goal
2. All other goals
3. Hit the back of the net without a bounce
4. One-touch finish
5. Volleyed goal
6. Headed goal
Level 3
Level 4
Each goalpost is placed in middle of defensive third, with space to play behind the goalpost.
Goalpost is moved 90 degrees after a goal.
Adjustments

10. CHEAT CHEAT You can use this card at the next TIME OUT
This card can be handed to the coach who will give you a…
CHEAT
You can use this card at the next TIME OUT
This card can be handed to the coach who will give you a…

11. CHALLENGE CHALLENGE You can use this card at the next TIME OUT
This card can be handed to the coach who will give you a…
CHALLENGE
You can use this card at the next TIME OUT
This card can be handed to the coach who will give you a…

12. CHANGE CHANGE You can use this card at the next TIME OUT
This card can be handed to the coach who will give you a…
CHANGE
You can use this card at the next TIME OUT
This card can be handed to the coach who will give you a…

13. CLUE CLUE You can use this card at the next TIME OUT
This card can be handed to the coach who will give you a…
CLUE
You can use this card at the next TIME OUT
This card can be handed to the coach who will give you a…

14. Player Challenges – an example of a player card
Birgit Prinz
ex Germany, football
Try to press the ball suddenly when you see an opportunity
Tips and help
Try to press the ball suddenly when you see an opportunity
Press the ball when you see a chance to do so
Good pressing happens when the opponent makes a bad pass or touch, or has their back to goal
Try to win the ball and keep possession
Be careful pressing on your own, try to do it with a team-mate
DEFENDING
FRONT
REVERSE