Small-Sided Games

Although seen by many as a modern approach, small-sided games have been used since the 1960s as the best way to coach key skills and tactics to your players. The articles in this section tell you why small sided games will help you, your players and your team to be better. We also show you some of our favourite small sided games and explain how they work.

Competitive small sided soccer game called War - A very popular game for children (and fun-minded adults) that emphasises beating the player. Some of your youngsters will want to play this small-sided soccer game all day!

Why 4v4 is good for youth soccer coaching - It should be government policy that soccer coaches use small-sided games before the age of 13. The 4v4 system accelerates development of technical ability and game intelligence. David Clarke looks at how 4v4 works.

Soccer problem solving using changing pitch dimensions - The 4v4 system is about solving problems, the players respond to the area you have marked out for them, all the elements of a real game are there for them to understand. However, sometimes the correct pitch layout is not enough, your team has a problem but you are not creating a situation to solve it. This is where changing the pitch dimensions helps.

Put 4v4 soccer coaching into action - Based on the central ideas behind Dutch Vision, 4v4 is a soccer coaching system dramatically different from most other systems. Created by the Dutch Soccer Association, its success is evident in the number of world-class players produced by such a small country.

Improve awareness with this fast, small sided game - Getting young soccer players to be constantly aware of what is going on around them is difficult, but you can improve their awareness skills with this fast, constantly moving game.

Use small sided games to score - Use this fast, small-sided game to practise turning defence into attack and boost your goal-scoring opportunities.

2v2 Small sided game to maintain possession - In this small-sided game from Michael Beale, Chelsea FC Academy Coach, players have to keep possession for their team and pass the ball to a team-mate standing outside the pitch.

A triangle game to encourage dribbling shooting and defending - This game from Tony Carr, Academy Director, West Ham United, English Premier League, uses three players and aims to improve attack and defense skills while focusing on dribbling and shooting.

High intensity soccer training drill - Simulate match intensity with a quick-change soccer drill where attackers and defenders swap roles to develop their basic soccer skills.

Small sided soccer game to boost midfield passing skills - This soccer coaching session focuses on using one-two skills with players running in from midfield. These passes can put midfielders into goal-scoring positions by using an attacker to pass past the defenders.

Small sided game to practise passing along the back line - Giving your players the confidence to use a short ball from a goal kick will help their overall development as a player because it coaches them to stay calm under pressure and shows them how doing so will create space further up the field for midfielders to exploit.

Ball control and shielding skills soccer game - This is a great small-sided soccer game to get players used to playing against more or less players. It gives them a chance to use their shielding and ball-control skills and it's a fun game with a competitive edge.

Small sided soccer game to improve young players awareness on pitch - When young players are involved in matches they often lose their position and their soccer sense. To help your players with this problem, organise a fast, constantly moving game in training where players must think about position, action and direction.

Small sided soccer game to help players get back to basics - If your team hasn't won a match for a while, you need to get your players back to basics and working on their core soccer skills. The best way to get them playing with confidence again is to use small-sided games and fun drills. Don't preach at your team or lose your temper with them, simply get them working on passing, tackling and shooting skills.

Close down space with this 4v2 small sided soccer game - If you watch the best defenders, they don’t give away space easily. Space is an attacker’s friend but it’s a defender’s enemy. This small-sided soccer defence game is a good one to work on with your defenders, but all players should be able to close down space when an opponent is receiving the ball.

Small sided game to get players running with the ball - In this small-sided game players get rewarded for holding onto the ball and running with it. The team that covers the most ground will score the most points. Divide the pitch up so players know where the points are scored.

Attack and cover the goal soccer coaching game - This is a good small-sided game to use at the end of one of your soccer training sessions to encourage players to shoot at the empty goals. It is played along the lines of how youngsters play in the playground with the player nearest to the goal becoming the goalkeeper.

Three in one soccer coaching session - This is a transition soccer game which gives your players an excellent workout at 1v1, 2v2 and 4v4. It's three games on the same pitch. The emphasis moves from individual skills to team work and communication.

Small sided soccer games for keeping possession under pressure - Getting players to keep the ball is a vital soccer skill. But if you're coaching this technique, different age groups will need different levels to work at. Here are three games pitched at different levels to practise possession soccer skills.

Small sided game to focus on last five minutes of a match - Nothing hurts more than losing it in the last five minutes of your soccer (football) game. To coach your players in the tactics to avoid this pitfall, use the following small-sided soccer game.

Four goal passing game - Try this four goal small-sided soccer game so your players get more touches, more passes, more shots and more participation.

Multi ball game to improve soccer thinking skills - Try this multi-ball small-sided soccer game so your players have to think about the danger from two separate balls and consider how they can make their two balls give them an advantage.

Small sided soccer game for possession skills - Try this fun, fast possession game with your young soccer players. The aim of the game is for the passing team to keep possession of the ball, away from the pressuring team. They have 30 seconds to score a goal...

Small sided game to stop opponents getting the ball - Small-sided soccer games are a great way to get your young soccer players developing their core soccer skills. This is a good one to use when you're coaching players how to stop their opponents from stealing the ball.

Small sided soccer game to get players reacting to extra numbers - This small-sided soccer game from Michael Beale, Chelsea FC academy coach, is designed to help your team cope when playing with an extra player or against an extra player. They need to be able to react quickly in situations where they are the lone player in a 2 v 1 or respond with quick passing when they outnumber the opposition players.

Small sided soccer game to pounce on a through ball - This small-sided soccer game is a great one to get your soccer players pouncing on the through ball from your team's positive passer.

Playground style small sided game - Playground-style soccer is typically tackles flying in from all angles and playing that is quick and in control. It's a great way to learn! This small-sided game recreates this so that all the players are involved, and sometimes one side is heavily stacked against the other.

Small sided soccer game for volleys - Young soccer (football) players need lots of volleying practice to help them perfect this soccer skill. Use the following small-sided soccer game to coach the tactics needed.

Small sided game to score from every attack - In this small-sided soccer game you've got ten attacks to score as many goals as possible against your defenders. You've got to be right on top of coaching this game. Halt the game if your young soccer players are not doing what you want them to do, then show them what you want.

Small sided game to help the player on the ball pass it - The idea behind this small-sided soccer game is to coach your players in the art of helping the player on the ball pass it.

Small sided soccer game to get past defenders - Soccer is similar to a chess game sometimes when the opposition's pawns are in front of your team and your players have to get past the pawns to their king (the goalie). In chess, you entice your opponent to move their pawns and in soccer you have to apply pressure in the right way to force those defenders apart and give your players goal-scoring opportunities.

Small sided soccer game using wide advantage - This small-sided soccer game shows you how to coach your young soccer players to use the advantage of having more players to create space and score goals.

Small sided game for quick feet - If you are coaching quick feet in your soccer (football) training session, this is a good small-sided game to use at the end of the session to hammer home the skills and techniques you've been coaching. It is simple to set up and gives you the chance to see if what you've been coaching is having an effect.

Soccer game to put defenders under pressure - You often see a defence under pressure in youth soccer (football) games. The opposition make all the right decisions and create goal-scoring opportunities because your defenders do not know what to do when they are outnumbered.
Use this small-sided game to coach your defenders how to organise when they have more attackers running at them than they have defenders.

Continuous 2v1 small sided game - This is a favourite small-sided 2v1 game with my young soccer players.

Drill for defensive soccer strategies -
Setting up a coaching drill where you have different numbers of players on each side is a great way of boosting defensive soccer strategies and getting your players taking advantage of match-like situations.

Back to back goals game - When I want to turn my defending deep/quick counter-attack session into a small-sided soccer game, I use this one.

Small sided soccer game for possession - A small-sided soccer game that pits possession against pressure.

Fun indoor coaching game - When you are coaching your young soccer (football) players, there are often times when the players start to lose concentration and the session becomes a bit ragged or unfocused. Use this fun game to get players back on track. It's a good exercise to use when weather conditions mean indoor play is necessary.

Small sided soccer game to boost quick thinking skills - If you have been working on getting your soccer (football) players to practise quick throw-ins during training, why not round the session off with a quick 4v4 game to put their quick-thinking throw-in skills to the test.

Small sided soccer game for shielding and ball control - This is a great small-sided soccer game to get players used to playing against more or less players. It gives them a chance to use their shielding and ball control soccer skills. It's also a fun game with a competitive edge to keep players motivated.

Small sided soccer game for defenders working in partnership - This is a great small-sided soccer game to give your defenders the challenge of working alone, then working in partnership. This is where the team with the ball is keen to keep possession or they will have to join the defenders.

Small sided soccer drill with touchdown twist - This small-sided soccer game encourages soccer (football) players to use the full width of the pitch because they are not focused on scoring in a goal. It's like scoring a touchdown in American football or a try in rugby except that players have to work on their dribbling skills and keep the ball at their feet.

Fun small sided soccer game to round off training - You can use this simple small-sided soccer game in any of your coaching sessions, it gives young players a good fitness workout as an alternative to the traditional end-of-training match.

Soccer drill to help central players defend or attack - This soccer coaching drill session has four quickfire attacks to teach the central players in your team how to adjust their positions to defend and attack different situations.

Small sided soccer game to change shooting angles - Using different soccer pitch set-ups can help make your coaching easier. You can get the pitch to do the hard work while you watch and talk to your players about how they are performing during their small-sided soccer games.

Add playground fun to your soccer coaching session - Add a bit of flair and spontaneity to your soccer coaching sessions by getting your young players to do what they do in the playground.

A keepball small sided soccer game - Coach your young soccer (football) players to put opponents under pressure with this small-sided soccer game of keepball.

Small sided soccer game with overload attackers - The attacking team in this small-sided soccer game always has a numerical advantage because they can use neutral attackers to set up goal chances.

Block the shot small sided soccer game - This small-sided soccer (football) game works on reactive speed skills and forces your attackers and defenders to work at match speed in order to be successful.

Dodging defenders small sided soccer game - Use this simple small-sided soccer game to get your attackers passing and moving the ball to prevent defenders gaining possession.

Small sided soccer game to get wingers out wide - Use this small-sided soccer game to coach your players to make the most of the whole width of the pitch. This soccer (football) coaching session helps players understand that by using the wings, they can put dangerous balls at different angles into the opposition penalty area.

Footwork and avoidance soccer drill - Use this fun soccer coaching drill to get players passing, moving in different ways and using their soccer skills to avoid the opposition at the same time.

Soccer coaching drill session to run with your U6s and U7s -
Use this soccer coaching drill session to train your under-6s and under-7s.

Small sided soccer game to get through to lone striker - One of the most important areas of youth soccer is the through ball to the attacker who has got beyond the
defenders. Use this small-sided soccer game to get players practising attacking to get the ball through to the attacker.

Two goal small sided soccer game - This simple small-sided game is a good way to end your soccer coaching session. You can watch your players in attacking and defending situations and see if you've got your soccer coaching points across.

1v1 soccer game to develop decision making skills - This soccer game uses 1v1 situations to coach the players to make the right decision to score points. Should they try to beat their partner for pace to earn one point or take them on and beat them for skill or strength to get three points?

Round off football training with multi ball game -
This is a great game to end one of your football (soccer) training sessions. I often use it with my U9s team when they have been training hard. Your players won't know there's a coaching element to this game and will be learning without realising it. Another bonus is your training session will end on a high note.

Robocop soccer coaching game - In this game players move at walking pace, like Robocop - but with a ball. The main soccer skills objectives are to improve communication, co-ordination and getting a feel for distances.

Soccer coaching session to get young players developing teamwork skills - This game is about coaching your young soccer (football) players to develop teamwork skills, strength and balance. The idea is for players to link up in a chain and keep together around the course.

Zonal soccer coaching game - Taking opportunities is important when your soccer players are in match situations – they need to recognise the opportunity and take it. I like this zonal soccer coaching game that allows players to score at every opportunity. My players love it – one slip and the other team has a chance to score a goal. A game where quick thinking, technique and taking every chance that comes their way is vital.

Fun soccer coaching game to teach quick throw ins - Use this fun small-sided soccer game to help young players take quick throw-ins correctly when they are under pressure.

Soccer coaching communication game called Robocop - In this soccer coaching game, players move at walking pace like Robocop – but with a ball. The main objectives are to improve communication, co-ordination and getting a feel for distances.

Soccer coaching game for switching play - When one side of the pitch is blocked by the opposition it is vital to "switch play" and move the attack to the opposite side of the field. A switch of play is used to create space to attack on the wings and may involve a 1v1 or 2v1 situation on that side of the pitch.

Fast-paced, multi-position game to get soccer players moving - This is a brilliant fast-paced, multi-skilled game called "Two-man crossing tournament". It sees teams adopt a number of different roles. For one team, the pressure is on to make the most of goalscorin g situations, while two other teams must show solid defensive thinking if they are to get a chance to attack.

Soccer coaching session to improve dribbling and skill levels - This session is designed to improve the dribbling ability and skill level of your players through a series of technical exercises and small-sided games.

Soccer coaching game with positive passing and movement - I love setting up new challenges in small-sided games for my players - the emphasis in this game, "4v4 ice hockey style", is on positive passing and determined movement. And while quite basic, this is a clever set-up that tests players' ability to think "outside the box", or rather "inside it"!

Soccer coaching game to win the ball back - A good defence will be able to pressure its opponent into making a mistake. The rule of this session is that the nearest player to the ball must go to pressure the player in possession.

Small-Sided Games

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